Ionicscale LLC is developing the worlds most compact, novel mass spectrometry-based chemical analyzers

These instruments will have wide ranging applications in environmental pollution monitoring, personalized medicine, food safety, biomanufacturing, forensics and law enforcement, defense, and space exploration. With an appropriate sampling system, these instruments can even be used underwater for several purposes including to detect leaks in offshore oil and gas structures; detect, locate and identify toxic industrial chemicals dumped in our oceans; and study various important aspects that impact the health of ocean ecosystems, such as dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) levels. To enable these important applications, this phase i award will enable the design of the submersible enclosure and a novel membrane inlet sampling interface to enable ocean-based in-situ deployment of the ionicscale GEN i mass-analyzer system. By conclusion of this phase i award, we will have prototype enclosure and sampling systems capable of interfacing with our first-generation instruments and will have measured important properties that will demonstrate the performance and capabilities of our products. We will also have identified industry and research partners that specialize in rovs, auvs, etc, to help complete an enclosure design that could interface with a target demonstration platform. Coupled with follow on phase II development of the electronics, software, and compatible pressure vessel to realize a full prototype instrument, this will allow for testing in an operationally relevant environment. The initial commercial applications of this instrument will include superior leak detection technology for offshore oil and gas platforms and underwater pipelines, and detection of toxic industrial chemicals dumped in our oceans. This research will also allow new products for monitoring of fermentation processes in bioreactors, monitoring of VOC pollutants in the environment, as well as the detection and identification of illicit drugs, explosives, and chemical warfare agents in the field.