Summary

This Phase II project converts the successful feasibility study into a prototype system for in-line, autonomous monitoring of hexavalent chromium in drinking and groundwater. The research team's in-line analysis system consists of consumable cassettes containing necessary reagents and an instrument that scans the sample to determine contaminant concentrations. Results are presented simply to the user, with calibration-free analysis performed over a wide concentration range. This project represents a beachhead market opportunity for a platform technology capable of measuring a wide range of metals in water. As an innovator in advanced chemical analysis, the research team is positioned to be the provider of choice for companies demanding fast, accurate water testing.

The specific Phase II goal is to develop, evaluate, and validate the innovative technology into an in-line, autonomous chromate analysis platform, enabling Phase III commercial activities. During the preliminary work, the research team demonstrates the feasibility of semi-continuous chromate analysis in real-world samples, achieving a sub-5-ppb detection limit. The auto-calibrating, modular system overcomes the challenges faced by other in-line systems using an optical method coupled with an internal standard to determine chromium concentration. With the capability to speciate chromate and future potential to measure arsenic, ammonia, and nitrate with the same platform, the research team's approach addresses the needs of industry in the years to come.