SBIR Phase I: Fast field detection of trace fluorocarbon compounds in water

这个SBIR一期项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力在于开发一种低成本、高灵敏度的传感器来测量地下水中的污染物。这些测量目前使用的技术相对昂贵（每个水样250-300美元），并且周转时间较长（10-15个工作日）。提出的现场光学检测技术的目标是将检测价格降低10倍（每个水样20-30美元），并缩短检测时间（10分钟）。所提出的传感器将具有以下先进属性：高灵敏度，高特异性，快速检测，易于操作，低功耗，零化学释放，低运行成本，远程测量，无需重新校准的长期稳定性。此外，直接使用样品水将潜在地消除与测量技术相关的不确定性。这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目旨在开发一个强大的现场检测和监测系统，用于监测地下水中痕量全氟烷基物质（PFAS）的水平。该技术采用荧光猝灭诱导相移。制备具有PFAS分子结合位点的荧光材料，并对其诱导的荧光猝灭进行实验评价。使用相荧光法，将记录淬灭辐射对激发脉冲的相移，并将其与水中PFAS的浓度相关联。关键的技术风险在于将复杂含水样品的灵敏度提高三个数量级。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this SBIR Phase I project is in the development of a low-cost, high sensitivity sensor to measure contaminants in groundwater. These measurements are currently performed using technologies that are relatively expensive ($250-300 per water sample) and have a long turn-around time (10-15 business days). The proposed on-site optical detection technology targets a 10-fold reduction in test price ($20-30 per water sample), and fast detection time (10 minutes). The proposed sensor will possess the following advanced attributes: high sensitivity, high specificity, fast detection, ease of operation, low power consumption, zero chemical release, low operational cost, remote measurements, and long-term stability without the need for recalibration. Moreover, direct use of the sample water will potentially eliminate uncertainties associated with measurement techniques.This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is directed toward development of a powerful on-site detection and monitoring system for trace levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. The proposed technology uses fluorescence quenching induced phase shift. A fluorescent material with PFAS molecule binding sites will be fabricated and its PFAS-induced fluorescence quenching will be experimentally evaluated. Using phase fluorometry, the phase shift of quenched emissions against excitation pulses will be recorded and correlated to the concentration of PFAS in water. The key technical risks lie in improving sensitivity by three orders of magnitude for a complex aqueous sample.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.