IL-GUMBOS sensors for acrylamide detection using quartz crystal microbalance
Sensor technology using ionic liquids (ILs) and GUMBOS as coating materials on quartz crystal resonators to detect and quantify acrylamide in water samples. The tunable nature of these organic ionic materials enables sensor arrays with tailored responses for improved analyte discrimination and quantification.
Overview
This research proposes a sensor platform for detecting acrylamide in water samples using ionic liquids (ILs) and GUMBOS (a group of uniform materials based on organic salts) as coating materials on quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) resonators. ILs and GUMBOS are organic ionic materials whose properties can be tuned through simple metathesis reactions, enabling the synthesis of multiple variants with different hydrophobicities and analyte affinities. By coating QCM resonators with different IL or GUMBOS formulations, the resulting sensor array produces distinct responses when exposed to varying concentrations of acrylamide, supporting improved detection and quantification of this compound in aqueous environments.
Technical specifications
Core approach:
- ILs and GUMBOS are synthesized via metathesis reactions to produce variants with differing hydrophobicities and chemical affinities
- These materials are applied as coatings on quartz crystal resonators used in QCM-based sensing
- Each coated resonator responds differently when exposed to acrylamide, generating a characteristic signal pattern
- Multiple sensors are combined into an array to enable discrimination and quantification of acrylamide in water samples
Key features:
- Tunable material chemistry allows optimization of sensor response for target analytes
- QCM-based detection offers high sensitivity to mass changes at the resonator surface
- Sensor array design enables multi-parameter analysis rather than single-analyte detection
- Prior work has demonstrated the viability of IL and GUMBOS coatings for detecting volatile organic compounds using QCM techniques
Technology readiness level
This project is at an early research stage. The proposed work involves synthesizing novel ILs and GUMBOS with varying hydrophobicities, applying them as coatings on quartz crystal resonators, and recording sensor responses to different acrylamide concentrations. The resulting data will be used to develop sensor arrays capable of quantifying acrylamide in water samples. The project is estimated to take approximately one and a half years to complete. The research team is seeking partnership support to acquire a quartz crystal microbalance system, a liquid flow controller, quartz crystal resonators, and reagents for IL and GUMBOS synthesis.
About Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a Carnegie R2 public research university with campuses in Statesboro, Savannah, and Hinesville. Industry partners engage through a dedicated Office of Business Engagement that serves as a single point of entry to faculty expertise, facilities, and talent. The Business Innovation Group complements this with incubators, a digital FabLab, and an EDA University Center linking companies to prototyping and growth services; the Savannah-based Armstrong Campus places teams near the Port of Savannah and a major coastal logistics corridor. Companies tap co-op, internship, and capstone pipelines to advance product development while building workforce. Research is supported by competitive federal and state funding, including opportunities from NSF and NIH; IP protection and commercialization are managed through the Research & Service Foundation and the Office of Research.
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