Skip to main content

Environmental Testing & Remediation

Latest Innovations
VaPRRS -Technology for Effective Air Quality Control The University's Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System (VaPRRS) is a patented long-lasting filter that effectively removes dilute volatile organic compounds (... Read More The University's Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System (VaPRRS) is a patented long-lasting filter that effectively removes dilute volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) from gas streams and recovers them as pure liquids. The technology can be integrated into a variety of manufacturing facilities and air pollution control (APC) systems to make them more effective. VaPRRS is a VOC/HAP recovery system that uses an activated carbon fiber cloth and electrothermal desorption (ED) to inexpensively and selectively remove vapors from gas streams. The system rapidly adsorbs and then efficiently regenerates the sorbent and allows for condensation of the sorbate gas all within one control volume. Experimental and numerical prototyping has successfully demonstrated the removal of 4-methyl-2-pentanone (MIBK), toluene, methyl propyl ketone (MPK), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), and hexane from laboratory generated air steams. This technology uses activated-carbon fiber cloth (ACFC) as an alternative adsorbent to traditional granular activated carbon (GAC) to remove and recover organic vapors from gas streams. The ACFC is microporous, has up to 250% of the adsorption capacity of GAC, has faster mass and heat transfer properties than GAC, and is ash free to inhibit chemical reactions between the ACFC and the adsorbed vapors. Electrothermal desorption can be used to rapidly regenerate the ACFC with lower energy requirements than steam- or heated nitrogen-based regeneration. ED also eliminates the need for an adsorbent drying step and the recovered solvent/water separation processes usually required with conventional steam regeneration technology. As shown in Figure 1 attached, this technology consists of two adsorption/desorption units that enclose hollow elements containing ACFC and provide gas ports at either end. The compounds are adsorbed onto ACFC cartridges (Figure 2 attached) that are electrothermally regenerated at a very rapid rate, causing the adsorbate to condense within the adsorption vessel itself and produce two-phase flow of the effluent during regeneration. The ACFC elements provide controlled electrical resistance, allowing for direct electrothermal heating and rapid regeneration of the ACFC and recovery of the VOCs/HAPs. Rapid ED with in-vessel condensation results in significant reductions in system complexity, cycle times, and nitrogen consumption. This new system also operates without the use of steam, heated inert gas, vacuum, or a refrigeration system. The pilot-scale system regenerates the ACFC within 40 minutes. Continuous VOC/HAP capture and recovery tests were performed with the bench-scale unit (125 mm diameter) while removing an array of solvents at a total gas flow rate ranging from 5-85 sLpm. The adsorption vessel contained 128 grams of ACFC. Single-component organic vapor tests were performed with MIBK; toluene; n-hexane, 2-pentanone (MPK); MEK; and n-hexane with controlled concentrations ranging from 100 to 10,000 ppmv in air. Overall removal efficiencies of greater than 99% were measured during the experiments. Applications Companies can license the VaPRRS technology for integration into existing manufacturing operations and APC systems for a wide variety of applications, including: Painting and surface coating: This technology can capture and recover paint solvents such as toluene and 4-methyl-2-pentanone (MIBK) for reuse. Printing: Printers who use this technology can reuse their printing solvents, including hexane, ethylbenzene, and MEK during production. Dry cleaners: Dry cleaning solvents such as perchloroethylene can be recycled on location with this technology. Chemical processing: The technology can be used to perform selective gas separation of organic vapors. Indoor air quality control systems: This technology removes trace concentrations of vapors to improve indoor air quality. Manufacturing: This technology can be used to recover VOCs/HAPs generated during the manufacturing of various products, including: Aircraft Pharmaceuticals Semiconductors Heavy equipment Millwork, veneer, and plywood Paint, ink, varnish, and lacquer Benefits Lower maintenance costs: The adsorbent material offers an extended lifetime of operation with little to no degradation in performance. Consequently, this system substantially reduces the costs of maintaining the APC system. Simpler and cheaper operation: This system has no moving parts except for the gas flow valves. VaPRRS also can provide a captured VOC as a liquid without the need for a steam generator, decanter, distillation tower, chiller, or other equipment. Better filtration: This system removes a wide range of VOC/HAP concentrations, including very dilute concentrations (<1,000 ppmv) of contaminants, better than existing methods. Improved VOC/HAP recovery: This system can easily recover valuable reagents that are lost or destroyed in other methods. Scalability: This technology can be scaled to process any quantity of vapor exhaust (e.g., from dry cleaning operations to paint booths for aircraft). Adaptable: The system can be customized to adsorb a wide variety of VOCs/HAPs, including ketones (e.g., MEK), aromatics (e.g., toluene), alkanes (e.g., hexane), halogens (e.g., methylene chloride), and many others. Safer: This technology uses a microengineered sorbent that is ash free to minimize localized heating and chemical reactions with ash that are a concern with bed fires and granular activated carbon. To license the entire Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System portfolio, click here.
Gas Purification Device with Liquefaction of Dilute Gas Components Many manufacturing processes currently emit large quantities of gas effluent into the atmosphere or dispose of by techniques such as thermal oxidation or bio-... Read More Many manufacturing processes currently emit large quantities of gas effluent into the atmosphere or dispose of by techniques such as thermal oxidation or bio-filtration (which both consume auxiliary fuel and produce CO2). These are usually carrier gases that contain dilute concentrations of organic gas (contaminants). This invention is a new device process for separating dilute gas(es) (e.g. organic gases) from gas streams for reuse as a liquid or other useful purposes (e.g. auxiliary fuel or chemical manufacturing). The invention provides gas purification methods and systems for the recovery and liquefaction of low boiling point organic and inorganic gases, such as methane, propane, CO.sub.2, NH.sub.3, and chlorofluorocarbons. Many such gases are in the effluent gas of industrial processes and the invention can increase the sustainability and economics of such industrial processes. In a preferred method of the invention, low boiling point gases are adsorbed with a heated activated carbon fiber material maintained at an adsorption temperature during an adsorption cycle. During a low boiling point desorption cycle the activated carbon fiber is heated to a desorption temperature to create a desorption gas stream with concentrated low boiling point gases. The desorption gas stream is actively compressed and/or cooled to condense and liquefy the low boiling point gases, which can then be collected, stored, re-used, sold, etc. Systems of the invention include an active condensation loop that actively cools and/or compresses a desorption gas stream from said vessel to liquefy low boiling point gases. Applications Packaging Material Gas purification (O2/N2 Separation, Ethane/Butane/Propane Separation) Chemical Manufacturing Petrochemical Printing & Painting Natural Gas Benefits Converts waste gas stream into 1) useful liquid (close to 100% pure) and/or 2) purified gas stream Generate auxiliary fuel by recycling purified carrier gas Closed loop system (reduces operating cost, energy, and material consumption) Reduces CO2 gas production (thousands of metric tons per year) Uses gas, not vapor (therefore boiling point is not an issue) To license the entire Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System portfolio, click here.
Thermal Swing Adsorption Based on Electrical Properties of the Adsorbent A method for indirectly monitoring and controlling an electrically resistive adsorption system. Adsorption of a predetermined adsorbate is conducted while... Read More A method for indirectly monitoring and controlling an electrically resistive adsorption system. Adsorption of a predetermined adsorbate is conducted while indirectly monitoring electrical resistance of a unified adsorbent element. Breakthrough is predicted based upon the indirectly monitored electrical resistance and a previously measured mass loading relationship between the resistance of the unified adsorbent element and the loading of the unified resistance element with the predetermined adsorbate. Adsorption, regeneration and cooling cycles are controlled by a controller without any direct measurement of temperature or resistance of the element and characterizations of mass loading and temperature. Systems of the invention can have no sensors that contact the element, are in an adsorption vessel, and/or are downstream adsorption vessel. To license the entire Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System portfolio, click here.
Colloidal Polymer Adsorbent for Removing Natural Organic Matter from Drinking Water Supplies This purification technology offers a more environmentally friendly and economically competitive method for purifying drinking water supplies. To create the... Read More This purification technology offers a more environmentally friendly and economically competitive method for purifying drinking water supplies. To create the colloidal polymer abstract, polysulfone is dissolved and precipitated in a mixed water bath, forming small, relatively uniform colloids. When this material is contacted with water containing low concentrations of humic acid (a natural organic constituent of many drinking water supplies) the humic acid is removed through adsorption on the colloidal phase. Colloidal polymer adsorbent has many advantages over the conventional method of activated carbon. Activated carbons must be disposed of or regenerated after their absorption capacity is exhausted. Regeneration is energy intensive and can cause secondary air and water pollution problems. Disposal of activated carbon sludge also poses a secondary pollution problem. Colloidal polymer adsorbent does not require disposal, and the regeneration process is environmentally friendly. The humic material can be chemically desorbed and the polymer colloids reused. Also, when compared with a common activated carbon used in the drinking water treatment field, Norit powder, the new polymer colloids demonstrate a larger adsorption capacity. Benefits In municipal water supplies, dissolved natural organic matter such as humic acid can give color, taste, and odor to water, and during treatment of the water supply, the natural organic matter can react with chemical disinfectants such as chlorine to produce known carcinogenicchlorinated-organic compounds like chloroform. Polymer colloids can be added directly to water supplies and allowed contact time in order to absorb natural organic compounds. The colloids have a large absorption capacity, and can easily and cheaply be regenerated through a simple chemical desorption step. The adsorbent need not be disposed and the regenerating solution is easily neutralized. Polymer colloids are an economic and environmental solution to the problems associated with conventional purification methods.
Water Resistant Metal-Organic Frameworks The construction of nanoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOF) by copolymerization of organic molecules with metal ions has received widespread attention in recent... Read More The construction of nanoporous metal-organic frameworks (MOF) by copolymerization of organic molecules with metal ions has received widespread attention in recent years. These materials are thermally robust and, in many cases, have high porosity. However, recent experiments have shown that some MOFs are not stable when exposed to >4% water, limiting their usefulness. Coordination bonding overcomes this limitation, requires mild conditions to create frameworks, and brings myriad choices of building blocks. Trifluoromethoxy group, which has been proved on most water repellent polymers and coating materials, reduces the water damage on MOF structures. A water resistant MOF, namely, ZnMOF3 is obtained through both solvothermal synthesis and microwave assisted solvothermal synthesis. It has a comparable vapor adsorbtion capacity with the commonly used MOFs, but does not adsorb moisture at 70 C. In addition, exposing ZnMOF3 to boiling water vapor for one week does not result in any dramatic X-ray powder pattern change. ZnMOF3 is a potential adsorbent in many industrial applications such as air adsorption.
Simple, catalytic DNA biosensors for effective detection of heavy metals & other diverse analytes based on color changes Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new technology capable of effectively detecting and quantifying metal ions in a... Read More Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new technology capable of effectively detecting and quantifying metal ions in a sample by color changes. Accurate, versatile, and inexpensive, this technology uses the catalytic DNA-directed assembly of gold nanoparticles and its associated color changes to determine the presence and concentration of a particular metal ion. The sensor works like a pH paper and yet can detect a diverse range of analytes. This catalytic DNA (DNAzyme) based biosensor technology can be used to detect and quantify metal ions such as lead, based on a simple blue-to-red color change. This method combines the high sensitivity and selectivity of DNAzymes with the convenience of gold nanoparticle-based detection. The technology allows for semi-quantitative and quantitative detection of metal ions in both high and low concentrations. DNA has recently been found to catalyze a variety of chemical and biological reactions. Catalytically active DNA are isolated through in vitro selection. The in vitro selection method can be customized to select DNAzymes that are active in the presence of any chosen substance (target analyte). Active DNAzymes can cleave another piece of DNA in the presence of the target analyte used in the in vitro selection. The piece of DNA being cleaved by DNAzymes can be used as a linker for DNA-tagged gold nanoparticles. Gold nanoparticles aggregated by DNA linkers have a blue color. Once the DNA linkers are cleaved by DNAzymes, the formation of blue nanoparticle aggregates is inhibited, and a red color of separated gold nanoparticles results. The fraction of DNA linkers cleaved by DNAzymes in a certain time is governed by the concentration of the target analyte. Thus, from the color of the resulting nanoparticle aggregates, blue, purple or red, the concentration of the target analyte can be quantified. This technology has been demonstrated for lead detection and quantification, and is generally applicable for detection of a wide range of other analytes. The detection limit of a lead sensor is already at or below the limit set by the federal agencies. A unique feature of the DNAzyme-nanoparticle sensor is that the dynamic range for detection can be varied easily by using an inactive variant of the DNAzyme. This feature is extremely important for practical application because the concentration of the target analytes is often unknown. Sensors with adjustable sensitivity range such as these are suitable for point-of-use application to detect chemical and biological terrorism agents. Applications Consumer Market: such as home-based toxic metal detection and quantification kits, including lead, mercury, arsenic and chromium, in a similar way that pH is monitored. Environmental Monitoring: This technology can be applied for on-site real-time environmental monitoring of water resources and soil, etc. Industrial Process Monitoring: This technology can be applied for on-site real-time monitoring of toxic metal ions in industrial process as well as in waste water management. Medical Laboratory Diagnostics: for the analysis of both beneficial and toxic metal ions. Developmental Biology and Clinical Toxicology: This technology can be used to monitor metal ion spatial distribution and transportation simultaneously. Benefits Selective: Catalytic DNA is stable, selective, and extremely sensitive; therefore there is little to no interference from other ions Inexpensive and Simple To Use: Does not require expensive or complicated equipment, colorimetric detection will allow for use in private homes Versatile: This technology can be developed to detect any metal ions, including Magnesium, Calcium, Manganese, Zinc, Cobalt, Copper, Lead, Mercury, Arsenic, Chromium and Cadmium, as well as other diverse analytes such as chemical and biological warfare agents. Tunable: The sensitivity range can be tuned so that the sensors can detect and quantify a wide range of concentrations of the target analytes without false positive or false negative results.
A DNA-Cleaving DNAzyme-Based Fluorescent Sensor for Cu_+ Detection Copper is a widely used metal that can leak into the environment through various routes. In low concentrations, copper is an essential nutrient; however, exposure... Read More Copper is a widely used metal that can leak into the environment through various routes. In low concentrations, copper is an essential nutrient; however, exposure to high levels of copper even for a short period of time can cause gastrointestinal disturbance. Long term exposure causes liver or kidney damage. Most fluorescent sensors for Cu2+ detection give quenched fluorescence, because Cu2+ is a paramagnetic metal ion. These sensors are prone to false positive results because anything that can quench fluorescence could be mistakenly interpreted as Cu2+. This new sensor can give over 13-fold enhancement in fluorescence in the presence of very low concentrations of Cu2+. Most sensors for Cu2+ detection are based on fluorescent organic molecules that can selectively bind Cu2+. Upon Cu2+ binding, these molecules usually show quenched fluorescence. Although some of these sensors are very sensitive and selective for Cu2+, their practical applications are limited due to their light-down nature. This invention can provide highly sensitive and selective detection of Cu2+ in heavy water. In this invention, Cu2+ recognition and signaling are spatially separated. Therefore, Cu2+ quenching efforts are minimized.
A fluorescent sensor for Hg_+ detection Sensors that can detect mercury with high sensitivity and selectivity are very useful in preventing mercury poisoning as well as understanding its distribution.... Read More Sensors that can detect mercury with high sensitivity and selectivity are very useful in preventing mercury poisoning as well as understanding its distribution. Most fluorescent sensors for Hg_+ detection need an organic solvent, and have poor sensitivity or selectivity. Based on the fact that Hg_+ can bind in between T-T mismatches in DNA and stabilize the T-T mismatches, while other metals cannot, this sensor has a detection limit of 2.4 nM, which is lower than the EPA limit of Hg_+ in drinking water. The sensor is also very selective and is silent to any other metal ions with up to millimolar concentration levels.
Quantum Dot Encoding of Aptamer-Linked Nanostructures for One Pot Simultltaneous Detection of Multltiple Analytes Nanoparticle-based colormetric biosensors allow onsite, real-time qualitative or semi-quantitative detection without complicated analytical instruments. Their... Read More Nanoparticle-based colormetric biosensors allow onsite, real-time qualitative or semi-quantitative detection without complicated analytical instruments. Their applications include environmental testing, industrial process monitoring, biomedical diagnostics and biodefense among others. Few biosensors currently permit simultaneous detection of multiple analytes within a single sample. This invention allows detection of multiple molecules in the same solution. Quantum dots are fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals. Quantum dots have an advantage over traditional organic fluorophores because under the same excitation light, difference emission wavelengths can be obtained based on the size and composition of quantum dots. The emission of quantum dots was quenched in aggregates by incorporating quantum dots into gold nanoparticle aggregates linked by DNA aptamers. The addition of target molecules such as adenosine can disassemble the nanoparticle aggregates and thus increase the distance between gold nanoparticles and quantum dots, resulting in increased emission.
A System and Method to Integrate Adsorption, Steady-State Electrothermal Desorption, and Subsequent Destruction of Air Pollutants A preferred embodiment steady state tracking desorption system achieves steady tracking of either a fixed sorbate output set point, or a set point that changes over time.... Read More A preferred embodiment steady state tracking desorption system achieves steady tracking of either a fixed sorbate output set point, or a set point that changes over time. The system includes an electrically heated thermal adsorption/desorption device A temperature sensor senses the temperature of an adsorbent material within the adsorption/desorption device. A sorbate sensor senses a sorbate level from an outlet of the adsorption/desorption device. A power sensor senses the power supplied by the desorption device. A controller interprets levels sensed by the temperature sensor, the sorbate sensor and the power sensor and provides a signal to achieve steady set point tracking of a sorbate level from the outlet of the adsorption/desorption device. To license the entire Vapor Phase Removal and Recovery System portfolio, click here.

Pages