Portable/Remote Chemical Analyzers With Reduced Reagent Needs

Currently, there are two ways of obtaining chemical analyses for field sites. The first method requires samples to be taken, marked, sent to a lab, and analyzed. This method is labor-intensive, and there often is a significant lag time between taking the sample to receiving the test results. The second method, placing a remote automatic analysis device in the field, avoids these problems; however, existing automatic units are not portable due to significant reagent and power requirements and are expensive to purchase, operate, and maintain. This SBIR project will explore novel designs for low-cost portable/remote chemical analyzers. In Phase I, new sensors will be designed that will reduce or eliminate the need for reagent chemicals. These sensors will be coupled with small, single-board computers to make low-cost, compact real-time analyzers capable of monitoring multiple pollutants and water quality parameters, with minimal need for reagents and power. The first step will be to build a new sensor for phosphate because of its environmental and industrial impact. Two concepts will be explored in this research¿the reaction of phosphate at metal electrode surfaces and the electrogeneration of reagents for the detection of phosphate.