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Acrolein Monitor Using Quantum Cascade Laser Infrared Absorption
Award Information
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Branch: N/A
Contract: EPD06020
Agency Tracking Number: B05B2-0090
Amount:
$70,000.00
Phase:
Phase I
Program:
SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code:
05-NCER-B2
Solicitation Number:
PR-NC-05-10246
Timeline
Solicitation Year:
2006
Award Year:
2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date):
2006-03-01
Award End Date (Contract End Date):
2006-08-31
Small Business Information
45 Manning Road, Billerica, MA, 01821-3976
DUNS:
030817290
HUBZone Owned:
N
Woman Owned:
N
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged:
N
Principal Investigator
Name: Joanne Shorter
Title: Principal Scientist
Phone: (978) 663-9500
Email: shorter@aerodyne.com
Title: Principal Scientist
Phone: (978) 663-9500
Email: shorter@aerodyne.com
Business Contact
Name: George Wittreich
Title: Executive Vice President
Phone: (978) 663-9500
Email: gnw@aerodyne.com
Title: Executive Vice President
Phone: (978) 663-9500
Email: gnw@aerodyne.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract
Acrolein has been identified by the U.S. Clean Air Act as a hazardous air
pollutant because of its adverse health effect, particularly on respiratory
systems. There are both anthropogenic and natural sources of acrolein
in the environment. Acrolein is produced by combustion sources (e.g.,
vehicle exhaust, prescribed agricultural burning, cigarette smoke) and industrial
sources, including manufacturing facilities of wood products. There is,
however, limited data quantifying the emissions of acrolein from these sources. There
also are few reports of ambient levels because of the measurement limitations.
There is a need for air quality instrumentation for acrolein and other toxic
air pollutants for routine air quality monitoring in urban areas for health
effect assessment and at specific sites for source assessment studies. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 has identified as a priority
issue the development of a measurement technique for monitoring acrolein. Aerodyne
Research, Inc., proposes to develop a fast-response, novel, quantum-cascade
laser system based on tunable infrared laser differential adsorption spectroscopy
(TILDAS). The diversity of sources and the relatively high reactivity
of acrolein require a highly sensitive, easily portable, and fast-response
measurement technique. The proposed acrolein monitor will meet these
requirements, achieving sensitivities both in the parts-per-billion range for
source monitoring and parts-per-trillion range for ambient monitoring.
The objective of this Phase I research and development effort is to determine
the feasibility of a real-time, mid-infrared TILDAS instrument to monitor acrolein. Aerodyne
will evaluate potential infrared spectral regions to determine the optimum
region for acrolein monitoring. Aerodyne also will investigate background
suppression techniques that are critical to achieving low detection limit. The
Phase II instrument design will be identified in Phase I. The anticipated
result of Aerodyne’s approach is a robust, sensitive, real-time monitor
of acrolein. It will be capable of long-term operation in the field or
laboratory with minimal maintenance.
There is a need for commercially available air quality instrumentation for
acrolein and other toxic air pollutants. The infrared laser detection
technique to be developed in this proposal will have wide commercial applications
both for routine air quality monitoring and for source assessment of hazardous
air pollutants. * Information listed above is at the time of submission. *