Potential government customers include researchers at the NOAA, USDA, EPA, and DOE. The product will continuously monitor organic aerosols in the environment and automatically log data. This system has broad relevance for regulatory compliance and environmental research. By developing diverse sensor arrays these systems could be used for monitoring of industrial processes for both quality and process control. The resulting benefits are significant when considering the possible use of these "electronic noses" in any number of industries, from food processing, petrochemicals, specialty chemicals, and waste handling and disposal. Consumer and food industries require methods to improve their batch-to-batch processes, reduce contaminants, and reduce off odors that come from packaging. Chemical industries need detectors for leaks of toxic or explosive vapors as well as contamination detection in process streams. Civilian applications include monitoring drinking water for MTBE, pesticides, or fuels, while military applications include detecting toxic or explosive agents in fuels. This program provides environmental researchers, who study atmospheric pollutants, with a low-cost miniature gas and aerosol analyzer, allowing for direct measurement of chemicals from a variety of polluting industries, clouds, and plumes, by providing a lightweight low-powered system that can be launched in balloons or UAVs. When coupled with GPS, the system could be used to map plumes from many sources. For example, the Mini GC can contribute to the ongoing research on the Gas and Aerosol Monitoring Sensorcraft (GAMS), which is often carried out by applying analytical instrumentations to an airplane or spacecraft.
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