Rapid, Portable Analyzer For Mobile Measurements Of Trace Level Volatile Organic Compounds

Recipient Organization
NIKIRA LABS INC.
1074 WENTWORTH ST UNIT B
MOUNTAIN VIEW,CA 940434629

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
Agriculture is a significant source of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds)pollution that directly impacts neighboring communities. Researchers studying these VOC emissions have been limited by the availability of measurement technologies. The technology resulting from this SBIR program will provide researchers with improved tools to measure VOCs, allowing for emissions mitigation, thus benefiting agricultural communities.Under Section 110 of the Clean Air Act, each state must develop a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to identify and mitigate pollution. Initial implementation has focused on particulate matter and select gases; however, as the impact of VOCs on human health becomes more evident, these SIPs are starting to include such compounds. The SBIR analyzer will allow for in-situ measurement of these VOCs to comply with the Clean Air Act.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

(N/A)

Applied

50%

Developmental

50%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
141	0410	2000	100%

Knowledge Area
141 - Air Resource Protection and Management;

Subject Of Investigation
0410 - Air;

Field Of Science
2000 - Chemistry;

Keywords

volatile organic compounds

air quality

mobile monitoring

Goals / Objectives
In this SBIR effort, Nikira Labs Inc. proposes to utilize its patent-pending non-paraxial multipass cell (NPMC) method coupled with a widely-tunable, mid-infrared quantum cascade laser to develop a portable analyzer capable of making rapid (1 Hz) measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at trace levels (ppb-levels). The system will provide speciation and concentration of VOCs aboard a mobile platform for studies of pollutant emissions and their impact on air quality to specific neighborhoods. These VOCs have been implicated in direct health effects, odor, and the formation of particulate matter (PM2.5).

Project Methods
In this SBIR effort, Nikira Labs Inc. will couple awidely-tunable, external-cavity quantum cascade laser to a patent-pending non-paraxial multipass cell (NPMC) to accurately quantify and speciate VOCs.

Progress 07/01/24 to 02/28/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The proposed work will result in a portable analyzer capable of making rapid, mobile measurements for real-time, in-situ monitoring of VOC emissions from agricultural practices and their impacts on neighboring communities. The USDA, through its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is dedicated to helping agricultural producers protect air, water, and soil quality. Specific to air quality, the NRCS is a leader in protecting agricultural communities from particulate and gas pollution. The SBIR analyzer will help measure VOC pollution in impacted communities and help assess mitigatory actions. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In this highly successful USDA SBIR Phase I effort, Nikira Labs Inc. has demonstrated technical feasibility by developing, testing and deploying a sensor capable of measuring a broad range of VOCs using multipass enhanced absorption spectroscopy in the mid-infrared (MIR) region. The prototype instrument utilized Nikira's non-paraxial multipass cell (NP-MPC) to reach optical path lengths greater than 400 m. By coupling a broadly tunable MIR laser covering the very large spectroscopic region of 7.6-10.4 μm to the NP-MPC cavity, Nikira demonstrated simultaneous detection and speciation of a wide range VOCs. Additionally, Nikira was able to detect trace concentrations of target VOCs with ppb level precision at 1 Hz. The sample cell was shown to respond with a 1/e time constant of approximately 4.5 seconds. The prototype was built on a 12x24" breadboard, was approximately 10" tall, weighed 25 lbs., and consumed 30W. After extensive laboratory testing, Nikira Labs deployed the sensor to measure VOCs at several facilities relevant to the USDA's mission, including green waste processing/recovery plants, composting facilities and dairy manure digesters/lagoons in California's Central Valley. Nikira recorded and analyzed absorption spectra in ambient air around each of these facility types and demonstrated the ability to characterize gas phase emissions from these sources. In addition to this technical work, Nikira Labs Inc. has actively pursued commercialization of this SBIR technology. Nikira identified several new applications for the NP-MPC VOC measurement technology and has organized field testing with a potential customer with significant market reach in environmental air quality measurements.

Publications