DEVELOPMENT OF A PORTABLE, BIOCHAR-BASED ELECTROCHEMICAL PFAS SENSING DEVICE TO PROTECT RURAL WATER RESOURCES

To date, our research group has achieved a number of important technical milestones including: 1) fabrication of a high-surface area biochar-based electrode, 2) synthesis of a first-generation fluorine molecular acceptor (FMA) electrode and 3) documented concentration-dependent changes in the measured surface capacitance of the FMA-coated electrodes in solutions containing 0.001 to 10 parts per million (ppm) perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The following STTR Phase II project goals and supporting objectives are designed to complete the scientific inquiries necessary to pivot to product commercialization.Goal 1: Address the remaining key scientific questions associated with the practical use of FMA-biochar interfaces to detect and quantify aqueous PFAS concentrations.Objective 1A: Characterize the surface FMA layer attachment and coating uniformity of the biochar electrode surfaceObjective 1B: Optimize the applied bias and frequency conditions used for the impedimetric measurements in order to establish the lower PFAS concentration sensing limit Objective 1C: Establish the PFAS measurement reproducibility range for similarly constructed electrode surfaces Objective 1D: Determine the impact of aqueous conditions (i.e., pH, ionic strength, presence of dissolved organic non-PFAS species, etc.) on the sensitivity, accuracy, and reproducibility of the PFAS measurement Goal 2: Obtain national (i.e., Tier 3) regulatory approval of the portable PFAS detection technology as a legally recognized Alternative Test Procedure (ATP) for quantifying the aqueous concentrations of PFAS compounds by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Objective 2A: Develop an EPA-approved method validation plan that supports the collection of specific laboratory data required for comparing the performance of the portable PFAS detection technology with the current state-of-the-art analytical methods (i.e., EPA Methods 533 and 537.1)Objective 2B: Collect, analyze and statistically interpret the PFAS detection and quantification results from executing the method validation plan Objective 2C: Forward the internally reviewed method validation plan final report and accompanying petition to the EPA's Drinking Water and Wastewater ATP Program managers for an official approval recommendationGoal 3: Secure private sector STTR Phase III financing to support product manufacturing, marketing and sales distribution.Objective 3A: Develop a series of product design options that facilitate field deployment of the new PFAS detection technologyObjective 3B: Sign contractual agreements with reputable product manufacturing companies to develop a containerized version of the portable PFAS detection technology for commercial sale Objective 3C: Protect intellectual property (IP) through legal patent protection of key scientific concepts that define and support technology performanceObjective 3D: Utilize trade secrets and other legal means to protect the technology's manufacturing methodologies