Luminescent Coordination Polymer-Based VOC Monitoring System

ABSTRACT: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) serve an important role in manufacturing processes as solvents. However, once these products reach the marketplace the industrial solvents are released into the ambient air, causing them to concentrate in enclosed work spaces such as office buildings. Exposure to VOCs from sources such as new furnishings, wall coverings, and office equipment has been linked to sick building syndrome, and has been blamed for increased rates of leukemia and lymphoma. A CDC investigation has suggested specific VOCs contributed to the illnesses associated with living in FEMA trailers following Hurricane Katrina. Therefore, the detection and subsequent mitigation of VOC exposure is important for public health in myriad settings. In this Phase I, Agave BioSystems proposes to use coinage metal (i.e. Cu(I), Ag(I), and Au(I))-based luminescent coordination polymers capable of reversibly interacting with target VOCs (e.g. benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE)). Changes in the optical characteristics resulting from interaction between VOCs and the coordination polymers can be photometrically detected for a simple and sensitive continuous monitoring system. BENEFIT: At the completion of the Phase II, Agave BioSystems will have developed a single step, field portable VOC sensor capable of specifically and sensitively detecting VOCs in the ambient workplace environment. The sensor will be marketable as an easy to read and fast replacement to EPA compendium method TO-15. The sensor will have applications at numerous DOD sites, and due to rapid detection, the device will provide a means to test multiple locations more frequently, enabling faster remediation of contaminated sites. Other markets include industrial facilities, homeland security, forensics, and law enforcement.