Monitoring Volatile Organic Tank Waste Using Cermet Microsensors

76048-Storage tanks of contaminated mixtures exist at many DOE sites. However, very few inexpensive technologies are available for determining the contents of the tank waste or for monitoring the chemistry of tank constituents in near-real time. This project addresses this problem by developing and assessing ceramic-metallic-based microsensors that can determine the constituents of a liquid organic storage tank by examining gases in the headspace of the tank. Specifically, inexpensive (less than $1.00 each), rugged electrochemical microsensors will be chemically designed and tailored for specific compound detection and then tested in a laboratory environment to verify that they can detect these compounds at given concentrations. Further testing will be conducted to ensure that the sensors can discern compounds of interest from others that may be housed in the same tank. A library of chemical signatures of interest will be established. Results of this research should indicate whether the microsensors are capable of accurately measuring both the concentration and type of organic compound housed within a tank. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits as described by the awardee: The new sensors should be inexpensive and rugged, provide results in near-real time, and be left in situ for future sampling efforts. Also, their use should reduce the human health risks associated with sampling unknown or unstable tank waste. Due to the widespread storage and use of organics in process industries, defense applications, and cleanup efforts, other applications for the product appear likely.