Field Rugged, Portable H2O2 Monitor

This Phase I SBIR project will support the development of a field-portable instrument for monitoring and controlling hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration during building decontamination after accidental or purposeful exposure to hazardous biological materials. The goal of Phases I through III is to develop a product that enables accurate real-time H2O2 measurements over the concentration range of 1-10,000 ppmV. The envisioned product is an adaptation of a portable gas-sensing platform based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) technology. The sensors will offer a combination of sensitivity, specificity, fast response, dynamic range, linearity, ease of operations and calibration, ruggedness, and portability not available in alternative H2O2 detectors. Compared to other spectroscopic gas analyzers, TDLAS offers the benefit of probing individual spectra lines, rather than spectral bands. This capability will distinguish H2O2 from water, thus overcoming a cross-sensitivity that has limited the accuracy of other H2O2 analyzers. Phase I will provide the data needed to select the best H2O2 spectral features for these measurements, thereby establishing the feasibility of developing the novel H2O2 sensor. Phase I also will investigate means for creating simple devices for field verification of sensor operation, establish specifications for a commercial H2O2 sensor product, and develop conceptual designs. The initial application for the H2O2 sensor will be for building decontamination. Customers for this product include government agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its contractors. Commercial uses of the product include pharmaceutical manufacturing and other sterilization applications. For example, barrier isolator systems are sterilized periodically by flushing with H2O2 vapor. Full automation of these systems is an industry goal but requires H2O2 analyzers with low-ppm sensitivity to optimize control of the sterilization process, reduce processing time, and provide a higher quality product.