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Contact: Claude Vauchier (claude.vauchier@cea.fr)
Lab-on-a-chip will detect pollutants quickly and onsite
Pollutants often are a byproduct of progress, but emerging micro- and nanotechnologies give us unprecedented capabilities to discover them before they become harmful.
There is growing demand for very sensitive tools to analyze air, water and soil. Moreover, it is necessary to do the analysis very close to the point of need. So in addition to being very sensitive, analyzers and sensors must be portable, autonomous, and low cost.
Focused on rapid commercialization
The strategy of CEA-Leti is to develop lab-on-chip for detection and analysis with a focus on rapid commercialization by our partners.
Monitoring the environment
Our goal is to propose fully automated devices for environmental monitoring to our partners. These systems will collect, prepare and analyze samples.
Methods include:
- biological analysis of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and fungi in water and air samples
- chemical analysis of heavy metals in water samples
- air analysis, using gas sensors for measuring CO2 levels and volatile organic compounds, monitoring air quality in industrial facilities, and detecting explosives
Indoor air quality
In cooperation with CEA DSM Iramis, we developed a highly sensitive system to detect formaldehyde, a carcinogenic molecule present in buildings at low concentrations.
Video:Testing biological air contamination
Highlights 2009
In 2009, Leti made big strides in gas-sensor development and we continue to develop microsystems to detect heavy metals, to control legionnella in industrial settings and to detect tiny amounts of cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, in water.
Our partners during 2009 included ELTA, Ethera, Cofely, Suez Environnement, CIAT, Cairpol, Schneider, and Areva
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