Field-Portable Nitrate/Nitrite Sensor

Nitrate contamination of drinking water is a major worldwide health threat and is responsible for many human and livestock illness. Excessive nitrates/nitrites in drinking water and the associated human health problems has prompted the EPA to set the maximum nitrate level in drinking water at 10mg/L (10 ppm) [1 mg/L for nitrites]. Unfortunately, no simple, cost-effective method exists for detecting nitrate levels in water-nor for routinely monitoring the performance of treatment systems designed to remove nitrates. The state-of-art method continues to be conventional off-site laboratory analysis. In Phase I Rey Tech will investigate the feasibility of developing a cost-effective, user-friendly method of quantifying nitrate/nitrite levels in the field-in real time. Preliminary data obtained at ReyTech indicates the potential to successfully produce a self-contained system for rapid nitrate quantitication down to sub-mg/L levels using a hand-held device that can be operated with minimal training. The Phase I plan is focused upon proving the feasibility of 1) designing the needed series of components for collection, processing, and reading/displaying/storing the test results; 2) fabricating and demonstrating performance of a bench-scale device; 3) identifying and minimizing potential interferences commonly found in water samples; and 4)integrating those components into a hand-held package.