Description: This Phase II Extended proposal addresses a commercial application needed for detection of chemicals and materials of concern in wastewater processing systems. It extends the use case of MAIA from microbial detection system to one that also enables trace detection of nitrates, phosphates, and microplastics and allows for future possibility to detect more trace materials such as pharmaceuticals and per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A gap in online monitoring methods is high chemical specificity with high sensitivity (<100 ppb). The combination exceeds the capability of traditional colorimetric and UV transmission/absorption methods. MAIA’s use of deep UV fluorescence and Raman “engine” with modular front-end, enables detection of microbes in water, air, and surfaces and can be adapted for detection and identification of key trace materials of concern necessary for online monitor of processed wastewater. Under this Phase II-E, we will mature MAIA from TRL 4 to TRL 6 and accelerates implementation in an online wastewater monitoring facility by our commercial investors. The matching NASA funds is to develop a new trace chemical concentration module to enable detection of low concentration materials of concern in wastewater processes. This new module leverages one of our commercial products for the pharmaceutical industry and enables transition and infusion into wastewater monitoring

Benefits: MAIA leads to a microbial monitoring system for astronaut health and safety on long duration flight missions. Current methods of microbial monitoring are extensive and time-consuming where MAIA enables an in-line and autonomous solution for air/water systems and a handheld microbial detection tool for surface analysis. The Phase II-E effort matures the MAIA to TRL 6 for implementation in wastewater systems, and by ruggedizing the instrument, accelerates future infusion into human spaceflight missions such Gateway and Mars missions.

MAIA is a game-changing autonomous method for on-line monitoring of microbes, nitrates, phosphates and microplastics. Current methods do not have the sensitivity or specificity required, and for microbial detection, time consuming and expensive. Applications include detection for wastewater, pharmaceutical industries, microbial air monitoring in clean rooms and hospitals, and biological threats.