Innovations

Fast and Inexpensive Field Detection of PFAS

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large family of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), have attracted worldwide attention in the scientific and regulatory communities and among the public due to their persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic characteristics that can significantly compromise human health.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. They have been used for firefighting at airfields and in a number of industrial processes. 2Witech Solutions LLC is developing and commercializing a portable electrochemical sensing system for on-site detection of PFAS . The proposed sensor will possess the following advanced attributes: high sensitivity (down to 1ppt), high specificity, fast on-site detection (<1 hour per sample), ease of operation, low power consumption, and low operation and maintenance cost. 2Witech's portable PFAS sensing system allows for accurate measurements of PFAS concentration without the long wait times or high costs of traditional PFAS laboratory testing. Applications of this technology are on-site PFAS measurements allowing for quick and effective analysis in your next project.

Autonomous Monitoring of Phosphate in Water

Sensors for aquatic phosphorus have been widely used in monitoring nutrient levels in water bodies to prevent eutrophication and preserve aquatic diversity. However, the key challenge facing current aquatic phosphorus sensing technologies is lack of in-situ determination capability and poor long-term stability. These methods either require addition of reagent to induce colorimetric change upon phosphate or need frequent calibration/replacement work caused by issue of ion leakage in electrochemistry.

Thus, none of current methods have so far shown to be suitable to deploy in remote environments for in-situ monitoring aquatic phosphorus. To address these challenges, 2Witech develops and commercializes a new generation of nanosensor based on radio frequency (RF) detection technology for in-situ monitoring of aquatic phosphorus. This technology will have significant positive impact on fields related to environmental protection and human health. We anticipate broad use in fields of aquatic phosphorus determination such as monitoring enrichment process of water bodies, managing plant growth, determining water quality, and clinical diagnosis of various disorders and diseases like hyperparathyroidism, hypertension, vitamin D deficiency, mineral and bone disorder, Franconia syndrome and kidney failure. Our approach will provide a direct means of controlling corrective actions taken to control the levels of aquatic phosphorus that could affect environment and human health.