A -- NOVEL REAL-TIME AIR PARTICULATE AND LIQUIDSTREAM ANALYZER

Notice Date

February 12, 2001

Contracting Office

Los Alamos National Laboratory, Mail Stop C334, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, NM 87545

ZIP Code

87545

Solicitation Number

LAUR01-0773

Response Due

March 19, 2001

Point of Contact

John Russell, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Industrial Business Development Program Office, Mail Stop C334, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545; fax [505-665-0154]; or email [jrussell@lanl.gov]

E-Mail Address

jrussell@lanl.gov (jrussell@lanl.gov)

Description

The University of California, which operates the Los Alamos National Laboratory under contract to the Department of Energy, solicits interest from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market a new novel real-time air particulate and liquid stream analyzer, hereinafter referred to as "Analyzer". License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. The Laboratory may also be available to licensee(s) to assist in the engineering and development of the analyzer under a sponsored research or CRADA program. Advantages and benefits of this analyzer include: real-time, in situ air-particulate analysis; up to a thousand times more sensitive for air-particulate characterization than current available field analyzers; characterizes metals and nonmetals in air particulates; applicable for either air or liquid streams; highly sensitive, portable, lightweight, low power, low cost; and adaptable for field use or dedicated installations. The compact Analyzer includes a microwave-plasma source, optical-beam collection assembly, optical-beam dispersal device and a signal detector. In addition, it contains an in-situ air-particulate sampling system and a computer-controlled data-processing system. The microwave-induced plasma technique enables continuous monitoring and the use of different plasma gases within the device to fit a particular technical need. Additionally, the device is energy-efficient, using a low gas-flow rate and requiring only about 150 watts of power to operate. The miniature microwave-plasma torch uses a 2,450-megahertz microwave power supply and works in one-fourth wavelength. The sample air penetrates inside the plasma and goes through an evaporation, atomization, and excitation procedure. The excited atoms in the sample then return to a lower energy level, resulting in a release of light, which is collected and dispersed by a small spectrometer integrated into the instrument. Real-time results and spectra are displayed stored on a laptop computer. Technical details of the Analyzer can be found at http://www.lanl.gov/orgs/ibdnew/license/techs/airmonitor.htm. This Analyzer is the subject on an invention disclosure with patents pending. Any organization interested in licensing the Analyzer or in partnering with Los Alamos National Laboratory to develop the Analyzer for their specific application(s) must respond with a Letter of Intent. The Letter of Intent shall include a description of the company's (1) business and business goals; (2) technical staff and resources; (3) financial resources; (4) manufacturing and marketing capabilities; and (5) motivation for pursuing this opportunity. Failure to provide this information may be grounds to consider your Letter of Interest as not being a qualified or acceptable response to this solicitation. The Laboratory may exclude your company in negotiations under this condition. The Letter of Interest is requested by COB on March 19, 2001. Qualified respondents that wish to enter into negotiations for a commercial license will be required, at a later date, to submit a comprehensive business plan or product commercialization plan prior to licensee(s) selection and negotiations. Please send Letters of Interest or questions regarding this technology to the attention of John Russell, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Industrial Business Development Program Office, Mail Stop C334, P.O. Box 1663, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545; fax [505-665-0154]; or email [jrussell@lanl.gov].

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010214/ASOL004.HTM (W-043 SN50D4F3)