Field-Based Detection and Mnitoring of Uranium in Contaminated Groundwater using two Immunosensors

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Environmental Science & Technology, 43(17):6703-6709

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es9007239· OSTI ID:973988

Melton, Scott J; Yu, Haini; Williams, Kenneth H; Morris, Sarah A; Long, Philip E; Blake, Diane A

Field-based monitoring of environmental contaminants has long been a need for environmental scientists. Described herein are two kinetic exclusion-based immunosensors, a field portable sensor (FPS) and an inline senor, that were deployed at the Integrated Field Research Challenge Site of the U.S. Department of Energy in Rifle, CO. Both sensors utilized a monoclonal antibody that binds to a U(VI)-dicarboxyphenanthroline complex (DCP) in a kinetic exclusion immunoassay format. These sensors were able to monitor changes of uranium in groundwater samples from ~1 μM to below the regulated drinking water limit of 126 nM (30 ppb). The FPS is a battery-operated sensor platform that can determine the uranium level in a single sample in 5-10 min, if the instrument has been previously calibrated with standards. The average minimum detection level (MDL) in this assay was 0.33 nM (79 ppt), and the MDL in the sample (based on a 1:200-1:400 dilution) was 66-132 nM (15.7-31.4 ppb). The inline sensor, while requiring a grounded power source, has the ability to autonomously analyze multiple samples in a single experiment. The average MDL in this assay was 0.12 nM (29 ppt), and the MDL in the samples (based on 1:200 or 1:400 dilutions) was 24-48 nM (5.7-11.4 ppb). Both sensor platforms showed an acceptable level of agreement (r² = 0.94 and 0.76, for the inline and FPS, respectively) with conventional methods for uranium quantification.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 973988
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-68764; KP1702030
• Journal Information: Environmental Science & Technology, 43(17):6703-6709, Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology, 43(17):6703-6709
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English