Lowering of Probe into Contaminant Bore Hole

Summa Canister Gas Sample Collection

Review of Real Time Data Captured
by Probe in Field

IMS Calibration Work

A team at Boise State's College of Engineering, headed by Prof. Molly Gribb,  has developed a novel probe that can detect contaminants below the soil surface.  The probe uses an ion mobility spectrometer, or IMS, that has been developed over the past five years with EPA research funds. The IMS probe measures volatile gases trapped underground from chemical spills or other contamination, and has the potential to be a powerful tool for identifying and addressing subsurface contamination issues, including those at the Idaho National Laboratory. Field testing began in July, 2006, marking the first time an IMS-based sensor system has been deployed subsurface.

Gribb is a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, and the Principal Investigator for the project. She and co-PI's in the Electrical and Computer Engineering and Material Science and Engineering departments in the BSU College of Engineering and Washington State University Chemistry department have led a multidisciplinary team of researchers in the design and fabrication of the IMS probe.

The system is designed to work in remote field locations and has been deployed at isolated sites in southwest Idaho as well as sites in Boise.  The team is operating two separate IMS probe systems so that work can progress simultaneously in the areas of laboratory testing and verification, feature set enhancement and field trials.   The ultimate goal of the project is to demonstrate feasibility in a variety of contaminant sites and assist in the 3rd party commercialization of the probe.

For a project overview and current highlights, click here  

Project Sponsor: EPA

Mr. John J. Barich, PE
Program Manager

Contract no. X97031101-0