Current Project List
Current Project List PDF
Current Project List
CPAC/APL RESEARCH PROJECTS
for Year 29: 10/1/12–9/30/13
Analytical Characterization:
Development of Protective Sol-gel Coating for Process Sensors:
Guozhong Cao, Materials Science and Engineering, and Brian J. Marquardt, Applied Physics Laboratory, UW
Project Summary: Our primary goal is to engineer protective sol-gel based coatings for optical sensors that have strong adherence, high gas permeability, strong durability, and high chemical inertness. This will be achieved by designing, developing, and optimizing new sol-gel coatings that are comprised of organically modified silanes and other metal alkoxides. These protective sensor coatings will finally be evaluated in industrially relevant chemical systems in order to assess their protective efficacy.
Development of a Bioreactor and Continuous Monitoring System for Production of Engineered Single Chain Antibodies and Their Use in Rapid Analyte Purification and SPR-based Assays:
Clement E. Furlong, Medical Genetics, UW
Project Summary: Our two aims for this year are: 1) Automating the production of the binding domains of monoclonal antibodies in an E. coli expression system and 2) Use the single chain anti-small molecule antibodies for process monitoring and control.
Vapochromic Detection and Identification of Important Analytes: Kent Mann, Department of Chemistry, U. of Minnesota, and Brian J. Marquardt, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), UW
Project Summary: To engineer novel environmental gas and dissolved phase sensor systems based on compounds with novel solid state chemical structures and continue the development and design of Vapochromic sensors for dissolved and gas phase oxygen and carbon dioxide.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance for Process Analysis:
Michael J. McCarthy, J.H. Walton, and Matt Augustine, University of California, Davis
Project Summary: To evaluate the impact of micro-coils on spectral resolution in a novel process permanent magnet designed for spectroscopy. Integrate a small low resolution NMR into a NeSSI system; characterize enzyme diffusion and mixing in cellulose-based feedstocks for biofuels production and explore the potential for NMR to be used to analyze materials in metal containers.
Modular Sensing Architecture for Low-Cost Wireless Monitoring: Brian Otis, Electrical Engineering, UW
Project Summary: To construct a micro-scale reporter that contains sensors and RF circuits assembled on arbitrary substrates. Self-assembly allows for ultra-low cost manufacturing of the reporters. We will also develop the circuit techniques necessary to build the extremely small radios necessary for integration into the reporters.
Battery-Free RF Energy Harvesting Gas Sensing Platform:
Joshua Smith, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Engineering, UW
Project Summary: We propose a novel battery-free wireless sensing network platform which uses ambient RF (Radio Frequency) signals as an energy source for an electrochemical gas concentration monitoring system. This system can easily be used to augment or replace current environmental sensing infrastructure in environmental monitoring and control applications such as toxic and non-toxic gas monitoring in a chemical plant, agricultural facility, home environment, and so on.
Sampling and Screening:
Detection of Thermal Damage to the Composite Fuselage:
Alexander Mamishev, Electrical Engineering, UW
Project Summary: The project focuses on conducting a feasibility study of rapid detection of thermal damage in composite materials. We will build a multichannel scanning sensor head to best meet the specifications of the project that would be moved in the gliding move.
Investigating the Use of LIBS as an Effective Process Analysis Tool:
Brian J. Marquardt, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), UW
Project Summary: To investigate a variety of ways to improve the analytical performance of LIBS when applied to a variety of sample states (liquids, slurries and solids). This work will entail identifying and designing an optical system to generate reproducible plasmas in different sample matrices.
Data Handling from Process Analyzers:
Development of Chemometric Methods for Process Control and Optimization:
Brian J. Marquardt, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), UW
Project Summary: The innovation and implementation of novel chemometric methods for process control and optimization will require in-depth evaluation of a number of data handling and analysis procedures. These will include an exploration of methods for sample and variable selection, the fusion of multiple sources of data, and novel methods for process monitoring and control.
Process Gas Chromatography and Chemometrics:
Robert E. Synovec, Department of Chemistry, UW
Project Summary: We propose to continue technology and software developments, with research investigations using gas chromatography (GC) as an important chemical analysis tool for monitoring, understanding, and controlling various processes. We propose to develop GC instrumentation for process analysis applications using high-speed GC (GC “sensors”) and two-dimensional GC (GC X GC), using thermal modulation and/or high speed valve technology. We propose to develop user friendly software for both on-line and discovery-based applications.
Process Optimization
Revolutionary Sensor to Measure in Real Time Progress of Enzymatic Hydrolysis for Production of Biofuels and Biochemicals from Lignocellulosic Biomass:
Renata Bura and Rick Gustafson, Forest Resources, and Brian J. Marquardt, APL, UW
Project Summary: Future biorefineries will require new sensors and control systems to measure, in real time, the progress of hydrolysis and fermentation to be viable. The overarching goal of this research is to develop and apply sensors for enzymatic hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic biomass to sugars to expand fundamental understanding of limitations governing saccharification process with the ultimate goal to overcome these limitations. We propose to create viable biorefineries with the development of new sensors, control systems, and separation techniques. The synergy between these developments allow for 1) use of Raman spectroscopy to assess membrane performance, 2) assess solid phase conversion during hydrolysis of biomass, and 3) rapid assessment of bioconversion of candidate feedstocks.
Raman Spectroscopy for Process Analysis: Advancing Analytical methodology, Data Processing, and Instrumentation:
Brian J. Marquardt, Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), UW
Project Summary: Raman Spectroscopy is a well-established vibrational spectroscopy technique for determining both qualitative and quantitative molecular information from almost any type of sample (e.g. solid, liquid, or gas). The main goal of the proposed project is to optimize Raman spectroscopy for detection and quantification of glucose and other fermentable sugars present in biomass hydrolysate. Our further efforts will be focused on finding optimal ways to perform sampling, measurements, and data analysis when analyzing biomass hydrolysate
Development of an Analytical Sampling System (NeSSI™) for Real-Time Monitoring of Continuous Flow Reactors:
Brian J. Marquardt, APL, UW
Project Summary: Our primary goal is to continue the development and evaluation of real-time quantitative validation of chemistry performed in a continuous flow reactor system. Through continued efforts in reactor engineering, chemometric modeling, and software development, we plan to expand the reactor system to include real-time quantitative monitoring using on-line Raman spectroscopy. In addition, new chemistries will be investigated on the reactor system. Multi-step reactions, multi-phase reactions, and reactions with precipitates will be investigated in order to address the engineering challenges these chemical systems pose.
Non-Destructive Evaluation of Multilayer Films with Micrometer Resolution, Using a Fast, Portable, and Low Cost Terahertz Spectrometer:
Dale Winebrenner, Applied Physics Laboratory, UW
Project Summary: Design and implement a small footprint, portable, low cost terahertz spectrometer for NDE applications in industrial manufacturing processes and quality control. This involves the development of Wavelet transform based estimation algorithms and data analysis techniques for high resolution identification of imperfections in multilayer films and coatings, based on localized irregularities in time-of-flight measurements of short terahertz pulses.
