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Advanced FT-IR Gas Analysis Instrument for Improved Process Monitoring and…

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
32146 		Program Year/Program:
1997 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
32146 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
87 Church Street East Hartford, CT -
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Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 1997
Title: Advanced FT-IR Gas Analysis Instrument for Improved Process Monitoring and on-site Characterization
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: N/A
Award Amount: $734,452.00
 

Abstract:

The Air Force has requirements for site cleanup and environmental compliance related to contaminated groundwater. Remedial operations of water contaminated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) presently utilize technologies such as air stripping, activated carbon treatment, reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and pervaporation. All of these methods require an advancement in monitoring technology to provide real-time on-site information of VOC concentration in the process stream to determine whether treated water meets cleanup criteria. The goal of this project is to significantly reduce the analysis time and cost of water remediation monitoring from the presently used Field Analytical Method (FAM) of GC/MS. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscoy is emerging as a promising FAM, but needs innovative advancement. This project (Phase I and II) will produce critical components to advance FT-IR well beyond the capabilities of GC/MS for analysis speed, cost per sample, ruggedness, ease of use, safety, and system cost with part per billion sensitivity to VOCs. Phase I will begin with the feasibility of a reduced volume, high throughput long optical path gas cell (500 cc, 60 meter effective path length) for use with a field proven FT-IR. The 60 m mini-cell will allow for significantly faster analysis (10 sec for ppm accuracy, 3 min for ppb accuracy) than the 1/2 hour necessary for GC/MS while replacing the heavy, large volume, long length gas cells presently used with FT-IR systems. If Phase I is successful, the project will proceed by addressing operating, analysis, and regulator issues. Then a fully integrated FAM will be produced for an extended demonstration at a water remediation site.

Principal Investigator:

James R. Markham
2035289806

Business Contact:

Small Business Information at Submission:

Advanced Fuel Research, Inc.
P.o. Box 380379 87 Church Street East Hartford, CT 06138

EIN/Tax ID:
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No