Microsensors for In-Situ Chemical, Physical, and Radiological Characterization of Mixed Waste

Therndat, Thomas G.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory

关键词: Corrosion;    Research Programs;    46 Instrumentation Related To Nuclear Science And Technology;    Monitoring;    Stresses;   

DOI  :  10.2172/834595
RP-ID  :  EMSP-73808-2002
RP-ID  :  834595

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

A widespread need exists for portable, real-time, in-situ chemical, physical, and radiological sensors for the characterization and monitoring of mixed waste, ground water, contaminated soil and process streams. The applications range from monitoring plume containment and the results of remediation efforts to the determination of the location, chemical composition, and level of contaminants in soil or groundwater. The objective of this research program is to gain a better understanding of the molecular-level mechanism of adsorption-induced stress on microcantilever sensors. The ability to manipulate and control these stresses will lead to the development of highly selective and extremely sensitive sensors for EM specific applications in liquid environment in the presence of interferents. Cantilevers can be made specific for chemical species by attaching molecular recognition agents to one surface of a cantilever so that adsorption induced stress primarily occurs at that surf ace. Furthermore, it is possible to separate chemisorption and physisorption by simultaneous measurement of the changes in resonance frequency and static deflection of a cantilever. Based on these parameters, this program has the objective of developing and demonstrating corrosion resistant cantilevers with parts-per-trillion sensitivity for metal ions in solution such as Hg2+, CrO4 2-, Sr2+, and TcO4 -. Selectivity will be achieved by orthogonal arraying of modified cantilevers. A prototype sensor platform having a sensor cantilever and a reference cantilever will be field-tested in the third year, and this basic platform is intended to be the basis for a plethora of inexpensive, miniature sensors for a variety of heavy metal contaminants in solution.