Inexpensive Formaldehyde Sensor for Indoor Air Quality Application

Formaldehyde is a reactive and flammable aldehyde which is well known as one of the harmful volatile organic compounds. A_x000D_ combination of respiratory disease, allergic dermatitis and other ailments so called Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is associated with chronic exposure to formaldehyde. Therefore, monitoring for formaldehyde is important in residential buildings. In this Phase I_x000D_ developmental effort Giner, Inc. proposes to design and develop small, hand-held and inexpensive electrochemical microsensors for_x000D_ the accurate, sensitive and rapid (less than 60 seconds) detection of formaldehyde in residential buildings as part a hand-held_x000D_ formaldehyde monitoring instrument. The proposed microsensors will accurately detect and continuously monitor formaldehyde in air_x000D_ concentrations in the range of 0-5 ppm with a resolution of 0.01 ppm. In addition to hand-held operation, the developed microsensors_x000D_ could also be integrated with direct control ventilation (DCV) and Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to_x000D_ address one of the leading causes of energy waste stemming from the constant and sometimes unnecessary need to replace indoor air with outside air to provide clean air to the building inhabitants.