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A HAND-HELD LEAD DETECTOR

Award Information
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
Branch: N/A
Contract: N/A
Agency Tracking Number: 18787
Amount: $50,000.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: N/A
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: N/A
Award Year: 1992
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
Po Box 430
East Amherst, NY 14051
United States
DUNS: N/A
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Dr Emory S De Castro
 Principal Investigator
 (716) 684-0513
Business Contact
Phone: () -
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

DURING THE MID-EIGHTIES, APPROXIMATELY THREE MILLION CHILDRED BETWEEN SIX MONTHS AND FIVE YEARS OLD HAD POISONOUS BLOOD LEAD CONCENTRATIONS DUE TO PAINT. THERE IS RISK FOR ADULTS IN THE PAINT, AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURING, AND CERAMIC INDUSTRIES. THE NATION COULD SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF LEAD POISONING IF ONE WERE ABLE TO MEASURE LEAD USING A INEXPENSIVE, PORTABLE DEVICE. CURRENT LEAD MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES ARE GRAPHITE FURNACE ATOMIC ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY, X-RAY FLUORESCENCE, OR ANODIC STRIPPING VOLTAMMETRY (ASV). NONE OF THESE METHOD SATISFY SIZE, COST, AND ACCURACY CONSTRAINTS FOR A FIELD DEVICE. ONLY ASC AS THE POTENTIAL TO BE PORTABLE YET SELECTIVE ENOUGH FOR MININUM SAMPLE PREPARATION. ADVANCES IN MICROELECTRODES AND MICROPROCESSORS ARE A VITAL PART OF THE TECHNOLOGY FOR A HAND-HELD DETECTION DEVICE. A SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED ARRAY OF METAL MICROELECTRODES WILL BE USED FOR STRIPPING (CONCENTRATING) AND DETECTING THE LEAD FROM PAINT. A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN THE ASV WAVE FORM SIMPLIFIES THE CORRESPONDING CONTROL CIRCUITRY. THE ELECTOSYNTHESIS COMPANY, INC.'S OBJECTIVE IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF CREATING A HAND-HELD LEAD DETECTOR BASED ON MICROELECTRODE TECHNOLOGY. THEY WILL EVALUATE ELECTRODE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND PERFORMANCE. THE DEVICE WILL BE ABLE TO QUICKLY DETERMINE LEAD IN PAINT RESIDUES AS WELL AS FROM OTHER SOURCES.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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