Autonomous Monitor for Toxic Gas Exposure

项目摘要 这个SBIR项目的总体目标是开发一种微型的、微加工的气体， 色谱（微型GC）装置，用于对有毒VOC（挥发性有机化合物）进行自主、特定的监测 有机化合物）在工作场所的暴露。集成多个关键GC组件 是微型GC的关键区别。I期研究的具体目标 包括新型微型GC柱原型设计、片上温度控制演示 和单片集成概念的证明。最终的产品将是一个即插即用的微型 具有机载载气生成、采样和校准功能的GC。 许多化学和工业过程会导致VOC的排放。有些VOC是有毒的， 甚至致癌，对工人的健康构成严重危害。因此，迫切需要 需要对工作场所的VOC暴露进行监测。现有的挥发性有机化合物评估方法 然而，暴露具有主要局限性。例如，比色检测管和 光电离传感器虽然易于部署，但缺乏特异性。常规GC仪器， 尽管提供了高特异性和灵敏度，但是体积大且购买昂贵， 操作和维护通常需要离线采样，因此不方便或成本低。 对现场监控应用有效。目前，对具体的 以自主和持续的方式监测VOC暴露。建议的Micro GC将提供满足此要求的机会。

Project Summary The overall goal of this SBIR project is to develop a miniature, microfarbicated gas chromatography (micro GC) device for autonomous, specific monitoring of toxic VOC (volatile organic compound) exposure in the workplace. Integration of multiple critical GC components into a single chip is the key differentiator of the micro GC. Specific aims of the Phase I study include prototyping of a novel microGC column, demonstration of on-chip temperature control, and proof of concept of monolithic integration. The final product will be a plug-and-play micro GC with capabilities of on-board carrier gas generation, sampling, and calibration. Many chemical and industrial processes cause emissions of VOCs. Some VOCs are toxic or even carcinogenic, posing a serious health hazard to workers. As a result, there is an urgent need for workplace VOC exposure monitoring. Existing methods for assessment of VOC exposure, however, have major limitations. For example, both colorimetric detection tubes and photoionization sensors, while simple to deploy, lack specificity. Conventional GC instruments, although providing high specificity and sensitivity, are bulky and expensive to purchase, operate, and maintain, typically require offline sampling, and are thus not convenient or cost- effective for on-site monitoring applications. Currently, there is a critical unmet need for specific monitoring of VOC exposure in an autonomous and continuous manner. The proposed micro GC will provide an opportunity to address this requirement.