Award Data

This proposal focuses on developing advanced protection methods for the emerging next generation of electric power grid SCADA technology. A major concern that has been expressed by participants in the development of such methods is the need for a reference implementation of the next generation SCADA technology for use by researchers. This concern is addressed by developing a toolkit for next-gener ...

There has been an alarming increase in toxic cyanobacteria over the past 2 decades, with numerous poisonings reported from Australia to the United States. The increased toxic risks led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include cyanotoxins on the 1998 Contaminant Candidate List. Most cyanobacterial blooms, however, are not toxic. Furthermore, bloom toxicity will change o ...

This Phase I research project addresses the need for improved monitoring technologies for continuous particulate mass and chemical speciation of ambient aerosols. During the last few years, Aerodyne Research, Inc., has developed an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) instrument that measures ambient aerosol mass, chemical composition, and chemically speciated size distributions of nonre ...

The ability to detect and identify trace quantities of hazardous materials has become a significant requirement for protecting the population during the war on terrorism. However, the ability to detect and identify trace concentrations of a wide range of chemicals in the field using a man-portable instrument is severely limited. The ability to quickly and reliably identify toxic indust ...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified the need to protect buildings from chemical/biological assaults. Science, Math & Engineering, Inc., proposes to develop innovative, self-regenerating filters that combine filter media and ultraviolet radiation to neutralize and remove both chemical and biological agents in building ventilation systems. The goals of this Phase I ...

Boston MicroSystems, Inc. (BMS), proposes to develop a MicroElectroMechanical System (MEMS) based volatile organic compound (VOC) monitor by integrating analyte-specific polymer films with SiC-AlN microresonators. In this research project, BMS and the Naval Research Laboratory will integrate microresonators and polymer films with functional groups sensitive to aromatic compounds (e.g., ...

The goal of this Phase I research project is to develop a novel MicroElectroMechanical Systems-based sensor capable of detecting low levels of biotoxins in drinking water. An automated detection system based on this technology will fulfill a critical need in homeland security threat management. Central to the proposed sensing approach is a resonating microstructure optimized for sensit ...

Improved low-flow (50,000 gallons per day) sanitary wastewater treatment systems are needed. CeraMem Corporation's proposed approach includes a membrane bioreactor (MBR) using fully proven biological processes for biological oxygen demand oxidation and (optionally) for nutrient removal (i.e., denitrification and phosphorus removal). The technology has as a key inventive element—a ...

Physical Sciences, Inc., proposes to develop a multimetals emissions monitor to support Title V permitting of large air pollution sources based on its patented Spark-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (SIBS) technology. Previous work has shown that this technique is capable of sensitively monitoring metals in airborne particles that emit in the visible range (e.g., Pb, Cr, and Cd). To be u ...

We propose the development of a CTE-matched, liquid-cooled, high thermal conductivity heat sink for use in spacecraft thermal management applications. The material of construction of this heat sink has four properties that are critical: high normal and specific thermal conductivities, low CTE, high temperature resistivity, and moldability. Its thermal conductivities are higher than that of coppe ...