Project 3

Development and field application of novel ultrasensitive devices for the measurement of airborne VOCs

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Project 3 aims to improve technologies for detecting and measuring airborne VOCs and to thoroughly examine the differences between indoor and outdoor air as well as factors influencing VOC levels in homes.  

The center has been studying gold nanoparticle technologies with specially designed surfaces  to greatly enhance their sensitivity and selectivity for detecting harmful chemicals from Superfund sites. Over the past year, the project has developed a new type of chemiresistor sensor array capable of detecting trace levels of trichloroethylene (TCE) and aromatic VOCs, including BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in the air. Significant progress has also been made in measuring trace VOCs in environmental air. We have also developed a microfabricated micropreconcentrator approach for quantitative analysis of a broad range of VOCs in environmental air by GC-MS.  

Additionally, we have been enhancing the analytical capabilities and field robustness of the Multichannel Organics In-situ Environmental Analyzer (MOIRA) instrument. Laboratory calibration and pilot field tests have been performed, including monitoring in a home and on public roads in St. Louis, Missouri, and Louisville, Kentucky. MOIRA uses two residual gas analyzers (RGAs) operating simultaneously, and a data post-processing method has been developed to harmonize results from the RGAs, which have different sensitivities. The pilot studies showed the ability to detect neighborhood-scale variations in outdoor VOC levels, including differences in traffic-related VOCs from gasoline- and diesel-fueled vehicles. Recently, significant improvements were made to the citywide VOC passive sampling network design, and a two-week mobile platform intensive study was conducted with monitoring in various ambient settings.

 

Project 3 Faculty