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The ultimate goal is to develop/commercialize an easy-to-use, high-performance device for nitrate/nitrite detection in the field.
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Nitrate contamination of drinking water is a major worldwide health threat and is responsible for many human and livestock illness. Excessive nitrates/nitrites in drinking water and the associated human health problems has prompted the EPA to set the maximum nitrate level in drinking water at 10mg/L (10 ppm) [1 mg/L for nitrites].</p>
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Unfortunately, no simple, cost-effective method exists for detecting nitrate levels in water-nor for routinely monitoring the performance of treatment systems designed to remove nitrates. The state-of-art method continues to be conventional off-site laboratory analysis. </P>
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In Phase I Rey Tech will investigate the feasibility of developing a cost-effective, user-friendly method of quantifying nitrate/nitrite levels in the field-in real time. Preliminary data obtained at ReyTech indicates the potential to successfully produce a self-contained system for rapid nitrate quantitication down to sub-mg/L levels using a hand-held device that can be operated with minimal training. </p>
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The Phase I plan is focused upon proving the feasibility of:
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<li> designing the needed series of components for collection, processing, and reading/displaying/storing the test results; </li>
<li> fabricating and demonstrating performance of a bench-scale device; </li>
<li> identifying and minimizing potential interferences commonly found in water samples; and </li>
<li> integrating those components into a hand-held package.</li></ol> </p>
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Phase I success would lead to a Phase II project designed to produce prototype units and to demonstrate their performance in actual field applications.</p>
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Phase III commercialization would be carried out via private-sector partners. </p>
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Success in this effort would increase the safety of drinking water worldwide-especially in agricultural areas-and would add substantial value to the results of a tandem project that the USDA is funding (as a Phase II SBIR) under which the company is developing a novel nitrate/nitrite-removal system. </p>