Budget and Budget Details: Grant for Digital Probes and Sensors

The following budget and details are prepared as part of a program to bring modern digital probes and sensors into my high school in Southern Maine. The probes are manufactured by Vernier Products of Beaverton, Oregon. The prices shown are from prices listed in their product listing, from their website: vernier.com .

Proposed Budget - Science Probes

Probe/Sensor
Mini Gas Chromatograph GC Syringes GC Septa Ion-Selective Electrodes Chloride Ammonium Ntrate Supplies Conductivity Probes Supplies pH Sensors Supplies Dissolved Oxygen Supplies GPS Sensor LabQuest Supplies LabQuest Mini Assorted Manuals, etc Total Training/Support

Quantity Item Cost

1 10 4 2 2 2 6 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 $1,749 $63 $25 $179 $179 $179 $42 $95 $138 $99 $20 $209 $152 $64 $329 $305 $149 $48

Total Cost
$1,749 $630 $100 $358 $358 $358 $252 $190 $276 $198 $40 $418 $304 $128 $658 $610 $298 $96 $7,021 $2,020

Project Total

$9,041

The single largest and most expensive piece of equipment presented is for a single Mini Gas Chromatograph. A real gas chromatograph (GC) is a sophisticated laboratory bench instrument that detects, identifies volatile compounds and quantifies its concentration. While this device is considerably smaller than a bench instrument, it is still complex and is best suited for being in one location. If used for a pure screening device (presence or absence of volatile compounds) the device might be transported closer to the sampling location but quantitative results would be questionable.

Our intent is to collect samples and bring them back to the school laboratory for analysis. Therefore only one unit is required. Additionally, syringes are required for collecting samples (primarily water quality samples) and running the appropriate blanks and standards. Syringes are reusable and can be cleaned appropriately. Septa are also required for introducing samples into the device. They do eventually do need replacement after numerous analysis. Screening information collected with other probes might eliminate analyzing every sample collected and therefore reducing analysis time. As class size is always large, two sets of all probes are required. This is also valuable if one probe is not working or unavailable, a second set gives you at least one set. All costs are based upon two sets for probes and associated equipment. Due to the likely use of all these probes to look at water quality issues associated with an abandoned municipal landfill located within one mile of the school on the Saco River. Water that leaches through the landfill cover, mixing and discharging at the toe of the landfill slope creates a toxic leachate. As potential wastes are dissolved in water, ions of certain parameters are often a valuable tool in assessing the toxicity of leachate samples. Ion-specific probes measure the ion potential of these specific indicators and can be semi-quantified. The most logical leachate parameters would be chlorine, ammonium and nitrates. Additionally materials for the cleaning, storage liquid containers (probes must be submerged for storage in a buffering solution) and calibration solutions must be purchased. Calibration fluids can be purchased and diluted later for calibration of the equipment. Two other screening probes are pH and Specific Conductance. Conductance probes measure bulk or combined ions for a variety of ions in liquids. This bulk or total conductance gives a semi-quantitative value used to locate and screen future sampling locations. It is quick and easy but in non-ion specific. Another valuable tool is a pH probe. The acidity levels of leachate samples is famous. This screening probe requires similar solutions for the same reasons presented for the conductance probe. pH probes can be ruined if not keep in a buffer solution. Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a vital requirement for healthy waters for aquatic life. Low DO values indicate great risk to sensitive fauna, in particular and are used to correlate general water quality. DO probes require a similar solutions and standards as the above probes. A GPS sensor is essential when trying to locate seep locations around

the perimeter of a large landfill. Knowing the exact location of seeps in relation to the affected receptors is essential in establishing risk. The relatively inexpensive sensor is attached to any data collector and can be superimposed on top of Google Maps for presentation purposes. Data collection in a field setting is crucial. If data is lost or invalid, additional trips back to the sampling site is required. To eliminate this, two LabQuest units are budgeted. These handheld devices perform all the functionality of a laptop computer in about one fifth the size and weight. The LabQuest unit has multiple ports for various probes (and used together for the same sampling event) and sensors. Real time data is collected and the data is displayed on a small LCD screen. The data can be verified before it is saved and transported back to the classroom. The units even perform simple analysis of data on location. Two LabQuest Minis are required to down load data from the LabQuest unit to a computer in the classroom. This unit accepts up to 5 probes at once and can be used in nearly every experiment. They are powered from the computer and can be used in a field situation. Lastly manuals for equipment operation are required. However one of the best features of Vernier products is that they have developed manuals and experiments that can be performed by the students to support each application. The experiments were developed for the student and have all been tested prior to inclusion in the manual. They are available for each science sub-area. Finally a line item for training and support is presented. This is based mostly upon a figure obtained from Vernier for the cost of having a regional representative for a day of training and calibrating of equipment. Nearly 75% of the cost is for this single visit (mostly for the calibration of the GC). Luckily all of the high science staff has used similar probes at one time or more often. There is essentially no time required for training of staff. The only other cost involves one staff member spending an entire day receiving, setting up the equipment and testing before putting the probes away. There are no costs included for contracts or services plans. Vernier has a long and comprehensive warranty that covers nearly everything. Any travel costs are built into the vendor representative costs. This equipment allows students to collect data in a simple to understand manner. The data once on the computer can be handled, manipulated, analyzed and presented smartly with minimal effort. Once students see the ease of use and how simply they can control the data, more complex use of the system is possible. Students overcome their fears and concerns to start creating their own solutions to complex problems.