Project R-11801

Microfluidic platform with nanosensors arrays based on several detection principles for multicomponent analysis of emerging pollutants and toxic metal ions in water (Research)

Drinking water quality and safety is highly sensitive issue for the population even in developed countries with high standards of water treatment technologies, as EU countries and Russia. As a result of industrial activities continually increasing flow of wastewaters containing toxic heavy metals and emerging pollutants (antibiotics, hormones, et cet.), which are harmful to humans health already at ppb level, is released into the environment. Synergetic effects of several pollutants, especially combination of toxic metals with antibiotics, low efficacy of water treatment toward new classes of emerging pollutants (EPs), make on-site water quality monitoring equally important for EU and Russia. Although analytical methods are available for many EPs and metal ions, fabrication of highly sensitive and cost-effective portable devices for simultaneous detection of most toxic pollutants is still a challenge. The EMPOLSENS project is aimed to design, fabricate and evaluate the performance of microfluidics-integrated, miniaturized portable sensor with several detection modules for determination of the EPs (antibiotics and hormones), and most toxic metal ions (Hg, As, Pb and Cd). A combination of optical and impedimetric/thermal detection in one platform with smart data processing will allow detection in a broad concentration range, from μM till nM and below (with a preconcentration unit) will be developed. The higher reliability and sensitivity of the suggested approach in comparison with earlier developed devices is based on a combination of several innovations - built-in preconcentration unit for selected pollutants; application of two types of molecular imprinted polymers for antibiotics and hormones; design and synthesis of new lightharvesting dendrimers and hybrid material to enhance luminescence intensity; application of new silicon photomultiplier based multifunctional optical detector capable to record signals from the single photon mode up to few mW.

01 April 2021 - 31 March 2024