Microdetection Of TNT
The portable lab consists of a system plate and a disposable chip. The system plate carries the micropumps, detectors, and temperature control unit needed for evaluation. The microstructured disposable sensor chip is coated with antibodies and holds reservoirs for the environmental sample and analytic chemicals.
The stability of the system for storage over time is important with a view to volume production and commercial application. From 2003 on, the system will be tested in real life conditions and afterwards applied as a monitor in extensive field screenings.
TNT is not only a highly explosive compound, but also a highly toxic environmental poison. The water-soluble metabolites of TNT can be found in the waters and soils of former military training areas, shooting stands and ordnance factories and they are a great hazard in the human food chain.
The EUR400,000 project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Partners are WASAG DECON GmbH and the Technical University of Munich.
