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Contract Opportunity

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration or to license to further develop its novel and low-cost method for the detection and analysis of rare earth elements.

Background:

There are limited technologies and instrumentation currently available to analyze rare earth elements. These include inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP) methods (e.g., ICP-mass spectrometry or ICP-optical emission spectrometry), UV-visible spectrophotometry, and optical sensors. However, these methods require expensive instruments, lengthy protocols, and cannot be performed in-field. Samples must often be shipped to dedicated analytical labs for analysis. There is a need for a practical, cost-effective instrument that could be used in the field.

Description:

LLNL researchers have discovered that some inexpensive and commercially available molecules used for other applications, could render certain lanthanide and actinide elements highly fluorescent. These molecules are not sold for applications involving the detection of REEs and actinides via fluorescence. They are instead used as additives in cosmetic products and/or in the pharmaceutical industry. The study of their fluorescence properties with REE revealed that these compounds could be used to develop fluorescence-based detection of REEs and, certain actinides (e.g. americium). Although not tested with curium, based on current chemical knowledge of this actinide element, it is highly probable that the system will also work for curium.

Advantages/Benefits:

• The compounds used in this novel detection method are inexpensive and commercially available.


• The method does not require expensive instrumentation.


• The protocols are simple and fast.


• The method is highly sensitive; it can detect REEs at very low levels.


• The method can be used in the field.

Potential Applications:

• Detection of rare earth elements (REEs)


• Detection of actinides (e.g. americium, curium)


• Detection of certain metals


• Applications related to fluorescence (chemistry, process monitoring, mining, environmental science, analysis, lighting, decoration)

Development Status:

Current stage of technology development: TRL 3

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's practical and low-cost method for detection of rare earth elements and actinides should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.

2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.

3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's practical and low-cost method for detection of rare earth elements and actinides.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA 94551-0808

Attention: IL-13732

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