A Chemical Collection and Preconcentration System

There is a need for improved chemical agent collectors and preconcentrators to be used in hand held or remote Chemical-Biological (CBD) agent detection and identification systems. CBD sensing systems function as early warning and detection devices for aircraft and military personnel. A CBD detection system based on an innovative combination of solid state mass-sensitive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, microbore capillary columns, and an innovative silicon collector/preconcentrator is proposed. The advantages of the proposed system are: High sensitivity (less than 0.01 mg/m3), small size, solid state construction, light weight, and its ability to operate unattended for long periods without operator intervention. In addition, the proposed micro machined silicon collector/preconcentrator will also interface with other vapor detection systems such as ion mobility spectrometers (IMS). The construction and evaluation of prototype collectors will be carried out during Phase I of the proposed project. Following successful demonstration of the all-silicon collector, a Phase II effort will design, construct, and test a fully fieldable hand held chemical collection and analysis system. The goal of the proposed research is to develop a hand held trace analysis system for monitoring chemical agents on the battlefield and hazardous chemicals in industrial environments. ANTICIPATED BENEFITS: The end product will be a handheld CBD agent detection and monitoring system. Other important commercial applications include environmental monitoring for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), waste site remediation, and industrial workplace monitoring to comply with the Clean Air Act. The benefits include improved safety at industrial sites, particularly where there is a need for monitoring for the presence of dangerous pollutants.