May 13 2010
The Northeast Gas Association (NGA) has extended its contract with Applied Nanotech Holdings for the development of a mercaptan sensor.
Applied Nanotech metal nanoparticle sensors
Mercaptans, also called thiols, are chemical compounds having sulfur. They are added as a safety precaution added to natural gas to give natural gas its unique odor. Currently personnel have to sniff to detect the mercaptan’s presence in the natural gas. The mercaptan sensor will replace the current testing methods’ subjective techniques and offer additional efficiency and safety with lowered costs.
The NGA manages one of the leading research, development and demonstration (RD&D) initiatives on natural gas in the US through its NYSEARCH sub division. NYSEARCH is involved in funding and managing projects relating to technology development and provides assistance right to the commercialization stage from the initial conception stage. NYSEARCH currently caters to nine companies ranging in size from both small and large companies dealing with distribution of natural gas in Canada and the US. Its R&D range encompasses the industry requirements and has offered some of the most transformative new technologies.
The ANI mercaptan development program’s initial funding helped finalize the ANSI sensor approach’s benchmarking and feasibility study. The extra funding that will now be available due to the extension of the contract will result in the development of an engineering prototype that will be used for sensing inline of mercaptans at test points in the pipe line.
Dr. Zvi Yaniv, CEO of Applied Nanotech Inc. informed that his company is thrilled at the prospect of supporting the NGA by offering solutions that cater to the safety and technical requirements of the natural gas industry and its clients. He revealed that the company’s technology for non-radioactive source will be incorporated in the mercaptan sensor for facilitating the development of a sensing gadget without the requirement of radioactive material.
Applied Nanotech Holdings Inc.’s CEO Doug Baker added that his company is thrilled at the continual advancement in commercializing solutions for trace chemical sensors that have extensive market potential. He said that this technology will also be useful for health monitoring and industrial applications, besides being useful to the ongoing project.