Progress 06/01/09 to 01/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ammonia emissions from extensive agricultural operations such as livestock (beef, dairy, poultry, swine and horses) have gained much attention in recent years due to the adverse effects of these emissions on public health and outdoor air quality. Ammonia is considered an important pollutant due to its role as a precursor in fine-particulate-matter formation and its impact on ecological nitrogen balance. Therefore, the objective of this SBIR Phase I was to design, develop and demonstrate an electrochemical ammonia sensor for accurately, rapidly and selectively detecting ammonia in parts per billion (ppb), as well as parts per million (ppm) range. The sensor will be capable of detecting 0 to 300 ppm ammonia in air utilizing a design that uses solid-polymer-electrolyte-based, thick-film electrode structures for enhanced sensitivity. The sensor will operate in the temperature range of 10 to 50 deg. C and relative humidity range of 5 to 95 percent. The ammonia sensor design is comprised of two modules. The sensor cell module comprised of the sensor cell substrate and its associated components (liquid reservoir and gas access ports) and the electronics module comprised of the miniature (1.25 in. x 1.25 in. x 0.5 in.) low-power and low-noise potentiostat and sensor data-processing and control printed-board circuitry. Each module is housed in a plastic enclosure (housing). During the Phase I developmental work the sensor cell substrate, the miniature potentiostat and signal-processing circuit and the plastic housings were designed and fabricated. The ammonia sensor modules (the sensor cell module and the electronics module) were connected with each other with spring-loaded contact pins and the performance of the sensor was extensively evaluated in the laboratory for the detection of ammonia in the above specified concentration, temperature and humidity ranges. The Phase I experimental data successfully demonstrated feasibility of 1) configuring the ammonia sensor comprised of two modules (the sensor cell module and the electronics module) in a small (2.0 in. x 2.0 in. x 2.5 in.) package, 2) detection of ammonia in the concentration range of 0 to 300 ppm with a resolution of 0.1 ppm, 3) rapid (less than 30 seconds to 90 percent of full response, T90) detection of ammonia in air mixtures, 4) accurate detection of ammonia in the temperature and relative humidity ranges of 1 to 50 deg. C and 5 to 95 percent, respectively, 5) selective ammonia detection with no interference from carbon monoxide (100 ppm), carbon dioxide (2000 ppm), nitric oxide (20 ppm), nitrogen dioxide (10.6 ppm), isopropanol (100 ppm), acetone (100 ppm), uric acid (100 ppm) and diphenolic acid (100 ppm). PARTICIPANTS: The following Giner, Inc. professional staff worked on this Phase I developmental work: 1) Mourad Manoukian (PI), 2) A. LaConti, 3) E. Muhlanger, 4) M. Krebs and 5) E. Schmitt. In addition to Giner, Inc. staff we solicited the services of the following vendors: 1) Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH) for screen-printed sensor cell substrates and 2) Seymour Associates (Hudson, MA) for plastic housings. TARGET AUDIENCES: In addition to monitoring ammonia released to the environment from agricultural operations such as livestock (beef, dairy, poultry, swine and horses), the developed technology will target industries such as environmental, chemical, automotive and medical diagnostic. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Successful completion of Phase I developmental work resulted in a compact (2.0 in. x 2.0 in. x 2.5 in.) electrochemical ammonia sensor capable of selectively, accurately and rapidly (less than 30 seconds to 90 percent of full response, T90) detecting ammonia in the concentration range of 0 to 300 ppm in the temperature and relative humidity ranges of 1 to 50 deg. C and 5 to 95 percent, respectively, with a resolution of 0.1 ppm. There is a wide range of potential applications for an inexpensive and selective ammonia monitor because of the impact of ammonia on human health and the need to control ammonia emissions to the atmosphere. These applications include environmental, chemical industry, automotive and medical diagnostics. (Note: In this Phase I developmental work the emphasis was placed on monitoring ammonia released to the environment from agricultural operations such as livestock (beef, dairy, poultry, swine and horses.) The experimental results of the completed Phase I developmental work show that the performance of the developed prototype ammonia sensor met and exceeded the requirements of a feasibility demonstration and could be the basis for a robust ammonia monitoring system that Giner, Inc. will fabricate in Phase II. The Phase II design and developmental work will include tasks such as sensor design refinements and optimization, extensive parametric testing, comprehensive lifetime testing and fabrication of a rugged inexpensive (less than $100 to manufacture for quantities larger than 10,000) prototype for field evaluation. The successful development by Giner, Inc. of the low-cost and compact solid-polymer-electrolyte-based, thick-film sensor would have a major impact on public health and air quality. Because of the low cost and convenient and effective measuring process, a significantly wider and extended use of the sensors will be made to monitor and control ammonia emissions for personal health, as well as environmental concerns. This will result in an extensive growth and increase sale for the sensors, creating job opportunities in the manufacturing and monitoring sector. With over 300 person-years combined experience in the development of proton-exchange membrane electrochemical conversion technology and products such as capacitors (electrolytic and electrochemical double-layer supercapacitors), fuel cells, electrolyzers, oxygen concentrators and solid-polymer-electrolyte-based gas sensors, along with an array of laboratory instrumentation such as BET surface area analyzers, impedance spectrometers, galvanostats/potentiostats, dynamic mechanical and thermal analyzers, high-temperature tube furnaces, high-temperature and high-pressure hydraulic presses, metal plating baths, sintering furnaces, metal-stamping hydraulic presses, Giner, Inc. provided the scientific environment and technical expertise and know-how to positively contribute to the success of the Phase I feasibility study to demonstrate performance of an electrochemical ammonia sensor.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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