Novel Field Deployable Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection and Long-Term Monitoring of Pollutants

Chlorinated hydrocarbons represent the most prevalent contaminants of groundwater in the country. When released in the subsurface, they tend to persist below the water table, and it can take decades or centuries before slow-moving groundwater completely dissolves accumulations of chlorinated solvent product. Analytical methods currently available for monitoring these compounds require extensive sample handling and time- consuming laboratory analysis. There is an ever increasing need for the development of reliable and sensitive in situ methods for the long-term monitoring of chlorinated solvents in groundwater. This Phase I project will develop an onsite remotely operated pollution monitor for chlorinated solvents. The method is based on a unique combination of electrochemical reactions configured to minimize interferences from other components in the test solutions, but maximize sensitivity to the target pollutants. The system will be designed to operate within the Berlioz currently used to locate and characterize contaminants in soil and groundwater. In Phase I, the feasibility of the sensor design will be demonstrated by carrying out bench-scale exploratory development.