Miniaturized Flow Cell for Electrochemical Detection of Heavy Metals

3 Miniaturized Flow Cell for Electrochemical Detection of Heavy Metals--Eltron Research, Inc., 5660 Airport Boulevard, Boulder, CO 80301-2340; (303) 440-8008 Dr. Michael T. Carter, Principal Investigator Mrs. Eileen E. Sammells, Business Official DOE Grant No. DE-FG03-97ER82365 Amount: $74,996 Department of Energy facilities contain a number of sites where ground water heavy metal contamination needs continuous and unattended monitoring. This capability is not currently available. The idea of this project is to bring the laboratory to the sampling site rather than the conventional approach of bringing water samples to the laboratory. This project will develop a small, low power monitoring system for flow sampling and analysis of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and zinc, in liquid sample streams. The device will incorporate an electrochemical cell and detection electrodes into a photolithographically-defined channel system. In Phase I, this feasibility of this concept will be demonstrated by the fabrication of sampling devices by photolithography and micromachining. Detection electrodes and an approach to electrochemical detection will be developed; performance will be analyzed. A sampling and monitoring system will be constructed and tested. In Phase II, the system will be optimized and a second generation device will be demonstrated. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed device would be able to monitor metal or other electroactive contaminant concentrations continuously. As such it would find commercial application in several areas requiring sensitive continuous detection, for example in applications such as water monitoring and analysis of effluent from industrial processes, chemical process monitoring and environmental control and remediation.