Next Generation Sensors for Water Quality Testing and Fieldable Applications Using Traveling Wave Electrophoresis

Traveling wave electrophoresis (TWE) has the potential to become a powerful chromatographic tool for investigating the chemical (and even microbial) quality of reclaimed water. The limita-tions of current TWE device designs and the lack of a fieldable platform for analysis restrict the technology to low-throughput, research-based applications. During Phase I, Nano Terra ad-dressed many of these issues by developing a scalable fabrication process that yields TWE devic-es with precise electrode spacing, leak-free sealing, and simple access to the electrodes. Nano Terra also developed an automatic zero-power sample injection system to create 200 micron wide sample plugs. Sample plugs containing fluorescein were concentrated within the device and passed down the TWE channel. The objectives of Phase II are to (1) further improve the device design to improve both the separation efficiency and manufacturability, (2) develop capabilities for testing common water contaminants, and (3) prototype and deliver a fieldable detection unit. The final design will be a prepackaged, cartridge-style TWE device having standardized electri-cal contacts that connects into a compact, fieldable detection unit. Initial analytical targets will focus on 0.1-1 ppb level detection of disinfection byproducts, chemical warfare agents, and heavy metals in water.