Grant: Idea to Innovation

PM2.5 is the mass of particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 µm; it is a global challenge and has been identified as a threat to public health and the environment. Canada's federal, provincial and territorial government (except for Quebec) have agreed to ratify the Canada-wide standard for particulate matter (PM) and ozone. PM2.5 level in a region is now being monitored in a few monitoring stations. There is a need for portable and real time PM2.5 monitoring devices. This is a blank area in manufacturing industry in Canada. The Applicant and his team have developed and patented a new technology for portable real time PM2.5 measurement with two major technical innovations as follows. 1) Particle charge measurement for PM2.5 monitor and 2) New PM2.5 sampling heads. A portable PM2.5 monitoring device is herein proposed based on the proof of feasibility in laboratory. The final product is for both industrial and customer use and is characterized with low cost high accuracy, and easy-operation. This project will be led by Dr. Zhongchao Tan at the University of Waterloo. He established the Air Pollution Research and Innovation Laboratory (APRIL) with a mandate of advancing knowledge and developing technologies for clean air. He has been working on clean air related research and development for over 15 year, with about 100 publications, including papers, patents, and book chapters. Upon successful completion of this proposed research project, an Ontario-based start-up company will be founded. This company is expected to have a positive impact on Canadian economy by creating new clean tech jobs, training of highly qualified personnel and motivating commercialization of viable research. Contact information of Dr. Zhongchao Tan: Mailing address: E3 3154, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON , N2L 3G1, Phone: (519) 888-4567 ext. 38718, Fax: (519) 885-5862, Email: [email protected], Web: http://tan.uwaterloo.ca/