Automated Optical Analysis Suite for Validating Wastewater Treatment Efficacy

The U.S. Army is currently developing mobile wastewater treatment solutions reducing the need for wastewater removal from field-forward and tactical bases. Treatment process verification measurements are required to satisfy EPA regulations for the discharge of wastewater with common water quality assessments including fecal coliform load, biochemical and chemical oxygen demands, and total organic carbon. Using standard analytical techniques to monitor these measures of water quality typically requires a combination of lengthy test durations, technical expertise, sensitive instrumentation, and production of hazardous wastes. Leveraging experience with water analysis, fecal coliform quantification assays, and encapsulated microbe based sensors, Luna Innovations has designed and established feasibility of an automated platform for analysis of each measure in near real-time with minimal operational requirements or expertise. During the Phase II program proposed herein, Luna will include integration of chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon analyses, fabricate prototype systems relying on optical interrogation of our sensor components, and test and validate the system against standard methods.