2335438
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
Sbir Phase Ii: Developing the First Flow-Through Sensor for Real Time Microplastics Measurements -The Broader/Commercial Impact of This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II Project Is to Revolutionize Microplastics Detection with the Development of the First Near Real-Time Automated In-Situ Sensor.
Unlike Existing Sensors That Take Hours to Days for a Single Sample, This Technology Promises Quick and Cost-Effective Analysis of Microplastics Abundance in Water Samples. This Technology Can Enable Communities Nationwide to Monitor Drinking Water and Characterize Undersampled Environments and Sources of Human Exposure to Microplastics Pollution.
Given the Alarming Environmental and Human Health Implications of Microplastic Contamination, a Rapid and Affordable Sensor Is Crucial to the NSF?S Broader Impact Goal of Advancing the Health and Welfare of the American Public. The Commercial Sensor Caters to Scientists, Drinking Water Providers, Monitoring Facilities, Conservation Organizations, and Health Professionals, Facilitating Widespread Access to Microplastics Data.
The Goal of This Project Is to Create an Ultrasound-Based Sensor That Can Detect and Characterize Microplastics in Water or Other Fluids. Traditional Optical-Based Methods for Microplastic Detection Are Time-Consuming, Labor-Intensive, and Expensive, and Cannot Detect the Smallest Microplastics That Are Most Harmful to Human Health and Environmental Systems. Traditional Ultrasonic Particle Detectors Use Reflection and Scattering to Detect Particles Based on the Material's Different Bulk Modulus (Compression Resistance) Compared to That of the Fluid.
However, the Bulk Modulus of Plastic Is Similar to That of Water. This Project Utilizes a Novel Detection Method Inspired by Tomography and Interferometry to Measure Spectral Differences as a Function of Concentration and Composition of Microplastics, Even for the Smallest of Microplastics. The Method Leverages Observables from Multiple Physical Processes Including Scattering, Reflection, Absorption, Attenuation, and Resonance in Order to Empirically Map the Received Ultrasonic Energy to Concentration and Composition of Suspended Particulates in a Fluid Sample.
This Award Reflects NSF's Statutory Mission and Has Been Deemed Worthy of Support through Evaluation Using the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Review Criteria.- Subawards Are Not Planned for This Award.
Unlike Existing Sensors That Take Hours to Days for a Single Sample, This Technology Promises Quick and Cost-Effective Analysis of Microplastics Abundance in Water Samples. This Technology Can Enable Communities Nationwide to Monitor Drinking Water and Characterize Undersampled Environments and Sources of Human Exposure to Microplastics Pollution.
Given the Alarming Environmental and Human Health Implications of Microplastic Contamination, a Rapid and Affordable Sensor Is Crucial to the NSF?S Broader Impact Goal of Advancing the Health and Welfare of the American Public. The Commercial Sensor Caters to Scientists, Drinking Water Providers, Monitoring Facilities, Conservation Organizations, and Health Professionals, Facilitating Widespread Access to Microplastics Data.
The Goal of This Project Is to Create an Ultrasound-Based Sensor That Can Detect and Characterize Microplastics in Water or Other Fluids. Traditional Optical-Based Methods for Microplastic Detection Are Time-Consuming, Labor-Intensive, and Expensive, and Cannot Detect the Smallest Microplastics That Are Most Harmful to Human Health and Environmental Systems. Traditional Ultrasonic Particle Detectors Use Reflection and Scattering to Detect Particles Based on the Material's Different Bulk Modulus (Compression Resistance) Compared to That of the Fluid.
However, the Bulk Modulus of Plastic Is Similar to That of Water. This Project Utilizes a Novel Detection Method Inspired by Tomography and Interferometry to Measure Spectral Differences as a Function of Concentration and Composition of Microplastics, Even for the Smallest of Microplastics. The Method Leverages Observables from Multiple Physical Processes Including Scattering, Reflection, Absorption, Attenuation, and Resonance in Order to Empirically Map the Received Ultrasonic Energy to Concentration and Composition of Suspended Particulates in a Fluid Sample.
This Award Reflects NSF's Statutory Mission and Has Been Deemed Worthy of Support through Evaluation Using the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Review Criteria.- Subawards Are Not Planned for This Award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PHASE II (SBIR)/ SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAMS PHASE II", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23516
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Fairfax Station,
Virginia
22039-1409
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Applied Ocean Sciences was awarded
Cooperative Agreement 2335438
worth $998,320
from National Science Foundation in May 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Fairfax Station Virginia United States.
The grant
has a duration of 2 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase II Programs (SBIR/STTR Phase II).
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
SBIR Phase II: Developing the First Flow-Through Sensor for Real Time Microplastics Measurements
Abstract
The broader/commercial impact of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is to revolutionize microplastics detection with the development of the first near real-time automated in-situ sensor. Unlike existing sensors that take hours to days for a single sample, this
technology promises quick and cost-effective analysis of microplastics abundance in water samples. This technology can enable communities nationwide to monitor drinking water and characterize undersampled environments and sources of human exposure to microplastics pollution. Given the
alarming environmental and human health implications of microplastic contamination, a rapid and affordable sensor is crucial to the NSF’s broader impact goal of advancing the health and welfare of the American public. The commercial sensor caters to scientists, drinking water providers,
monitoring facilities, conservation organizations, and health professionals, facilitating widespread access to microplastics data.
The goal of this project is to create an ultrasound-based sensor that can detect and characterize microplastics in water or other fluids. Traditional optical-based methods for microplastic detection are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive, and cannot detect the smallest microplastics
that are most harmful to human health and environmental systems. Traditional ultrasonic particle detectors use reflection and scattering to detect particles based on the material's different bulk modulus (compression resistance) compared to that of the fluid. However, the bulk modulus of
plastic is similar to that of water. This project utilizes a novel detection method inspired by tomography and interferometry to measure spectral differences as a function of concentration and composition of microplastics, even for the smallest of microplastics. The method leverages
observables from multiple physical processes including scattering, reflection, absorption, attenuation, and resonance in order to empirically map the received ultrasonic energy to concentration and composition of suspended particulates in a fluid sample.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Topic Code
ET
Solicitation Number
NSF 23-516
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 5/6/24
Period of Performance
5/1/24
Start Date
4/30/26
End Date
Funding Split
$998.3K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$998.3K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2335438
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
N2W3KSDKYR79
Awardee CAGE
885E5
Performance District
VA-11
Senators
Mark Warner
Timothy Kaine
Timothy Kaine
Modified: 5/6/24