...Odorant Characterization in Gas Mains

excerpted from Northeast Gas Association Technology Brief
http://www.nysearch.org/publications/Tech_Brief_2011/M2009-002_MercaptanSensor_TBv2011_012412.pdf

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Artificial Human Nose

TECHNICAL APPROACH
NYSEARCH in collaboration with PHMSA/ USDoT, is funding Applied Nanotech, Inc., of Austin, TX, to develop an instrument able to measure the main components of mercaptans mixtures routinely encountered in natural gas, renewable natural gas, biogas, landfill gas, etc. The instrument will allow the detection and measurement of such compounds at the parts per billion (ppb) level, thus serving as an artificial human nose.
. . . . . . .
PROGRAM STATUS
The development of the methane sensor has been completed and laboratory testing has shown that all specifications have been met. The sensor is currently undergoing field testing at NYSEARCH member companies to determine its robustness, reliability and performance. At the successful completion of the field testing program, the commercialization effort will be initiated.

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NEXT:
Applied Nanotech Holdings'™ EZKnowz sensor Receives European Patent EP1976431B1
Published on December 12, 2011 at 3:10 AM
By Andy Choi

Applied Nanotech Holdings declares that its EZKnowz multi-gas breath sensor has been awarded with European patent EP1976431B1 and is used in identifying potential disease states in the medical field.

The EZKnowz sensor includes an analysis device, memory device and a sample collector that are explained in detail in this European patent.

This EZKnowz sensor technology is developed by merging the company'™s branded non-radioactive ion source with the existing differential ion mobility spectrometry solution. This breath sensor can select and sense a wide range of gases in adverse environments. The detection level of such a multi-gas sensor will be on range of either parts per billion or parts per trillion, which is needed in various applications.

The Applied Nanotech'™s breath sensors are compact in size and portable than the traditional breath detectors, and can be employed in various applications such as doctor's clinics, laboratories and home-health environments. The company'™s breath sensor can identify a wide range of diseases and gases, including lung cancer, pharmaceutical contamination, plant diseases, Mercaptan/BTEX, influenza, and wound infection/healing. Apart from its use in medical field, the EZKnowz sensor can also be used in detecting body odor biometrics and explosives in homeland security and military applications.

The company also hired Dr. Royce Johnson for enhancing its business development process in medical field. Dr. Johnson worked with Kinetic Concepts, a developer of therapeutic medical device, for 14 years in commercializing and revolutionizing the developments in wound therapy, skin grafting, tissue engineering, therapeutic hypothermia, and phototherapy.

Source: http://www.appliednanotech.net



(thanks to donpat, RB private APNT forum)