Development of novel micro-electrode based electrochemical analyses of Trihalomethane (THM) species in swimming pool/spa and potable water matrices.

在项目的九个月里，我们首先打算联系水测试领域的知名公司（如Hach， Palintest, Siemens），向他们介绍我们的技术，更重要的是确定他们在测试要求方面的需求。在这里，我们的目标是了解这些大公司目前采用的测试，重点是要测量的更重要的分析物（例如总THM测量，或单个物种），正在进行的测试次数，以及需要记录读数的准确性。一旦我们获得了这个初步的市场研究，我们就会利用这些初步会议来进一步介绍这项技术的可能的最终用户。在这里，我们的目标是对当前的测量方案进行审查，以便我们能够深入了解当前技术的局限性和未满足的需求。然后，我们将使用这些发现作为进一步扩展我们的开发协议的起点。由于我们的最终目标是可能提供一种能够测量许多不同分析物（如CHCl3， CHBrCl2， CHBr2Cl和CHBr3）的设备，因此我们认为深入了解用户界面所需的内容非常重要。最终用户的投入对我们开发具有商业可行性的设备至关重要。我们已经确定THMs是可能的目标分析物；然而，我们也寻求有关特定THM物种的信息，以便我们制定明确的测量方案。不同的消毒方案将导致特定THM种类的水平增加（例如，采用溴化时CHBr3水平增加）。一旦我们接受了最终用户的建议，我们就可以对每个所需分析物的传感设备的开发时间尺度和成本进行调查。我们已经对测定一种THM——氯仿——所需的方法进行了初步的“概念验证”开发。为了测定氯仿，采用了一种简单的电化学技术，在碳丝网印刷的表面上，通过我们新颖的制造工艺修饰成微电极阵列。测量方案是基于氯仿物种在反向阳极扫描上的氧化，其中可以检测到氧化峰电流，并且可以与所调查的浓度相关。迄今为止，我们已测量到1ppm的水平，但我们知道我们需要获得约80ppm的检测下限，我们需要进一步指导特定THMs所需的检测下限；我们打算从与潜在最终用户和每个重点公司的联系人的会议中获得这些信息和进一步的指导。我们还需要调查我们为接近过程寻求专利保护的自由。我们还将开始确定任何可能产品的特定成分是否可以受到保护，以获得最大程度的保护。这项工作还将帮助我们确定任何竞争专利或其他阻碍商业化的障碍。在侵权期内尚未生效的专利，但由于处于公共领域而可能明确“使用权”，也将被搜索。当这种类型的搜索之后是针对任何高度相关的专利进行有效性搜索时，这有时被称为“清除搜索”。

Over the nine months of the project, we firstly intend to contact established companies within the field of water-testing (such as Hach, Palintest, Siemens) to introduce them to our technology and more importantly to ascertain their needs in terms of test requirements. Here we aim to gain an understanding of the tests currently employed by these major companies, with an emphasis being placed towards the more important analytes to be measured (for example total THM measurement, or individual species), the number of tests being taken, and also the accuracy at which the readings need to recorded. Once we have obtained this initial market research, we will then aim to use these preliminary meetings to provide further introductions to possible end-users of the technology.Here we aim to undertake a review of current measurement protocols so we can gain an in depth understanding of present techniques in terms of their limitations and un-met needs. We will then use these findings as a starting point on which to further expand our development protocols.As our final aim is to possibly provide a device which is capable of measurement of a number of different analytes (such as CHCl3, CHBrCl2, CHBr2Cl and CHBr3), we feel it is important to gain an in-depth knowledge of what is required at the user interface. Input from end-users is vital for us to develop a device which is commercially viable. We already have identified THMs as a possible target analyte; however we also seek information regarding specific THM species for us to develop defined measurement protocols. Differing disinfection protocols will lead to the formation of increased levels of particular THM species (such as increased CHBr3 levels when bromination is employed). Once we have taken advice from end users, we can then implement an investigation into time-scales and costings for the development of sensing devices for each of the required analytes.We already have in place a rudimentary ‘proof-of-concept’ development of the methodology required for the determination of one THM species, chloroform. For the determination of chloroform a simple electrochemical technique is employed, upon carbon screen-printed surface that have been modified to microelectrode arrays via our novel fabrication procedures. The measurement protocol is based on the oxidation of the chloroform species on a reverse anodic sweep, where an oxidation peak current is detected and can be related back to the concentration under investigation. To date we have measured down to levels of 1ppm, but we know we need to obtain lower limits of detection in the order of ~80ppm and we require further guidance as to the lower limits of detection required for specific THMs; we intend to obtain this information and further guidance from meetings with potential end users and contacts at each of the highlighted companies.We would also need to investigate our freedom to seek patent protection for our approach process. We would also begin to establish whether specific components of any possible product, could be protected to gain maximum protection. This exercise will also help us identify any competing patents or other obstacles to allow commercialisation.Patents within the infringement period that are not in force, but which may clear a ‘right-to-use’ by virtue of being in the public domain, will also be searched for. When this type of search is followed up with a validity search against any highly relevant patents identified, this is sometimes referred as a 'clearance search'.