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Available for Licensing: Fluorescent Tracer Technology for Hydrofluoric Acid Exposure Detection
Contact and place of performance
Javier Martinez
Idaho Falls, ID 83401
USA
Technology Licensing Opportunity: This technology is available for licensing through Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Technology Deployment office. INL is not seeking to procure products or services in connection with this technology, and no procurement activity is associated with INL's technology transfer process. Interested parties are invited to contact INL to discuss licensing terms and partnership oppor...
View moreIndustry Need
Current HF safety practice relies on prevention: chemical-resistant PPE, engineered containment, and procedural controls. These measures reduce exposure frequency but do not eliminate the risk of accidental contact, particularly in production environments or during equipment maintenance. No field-deployable method currently exists for workers to confirm the absence of skin or surface contact after an HF-handling task. The standard indicator of exposure is symptom onset, which may occur hours after contact, after significant physiological damage has already occurred. This detection gap represents a structural limitation in current HF safety frameworks across all affected industries.
Differentiation and Advantages
Post-task detection capability: Designed to enable active worker self-survey after HF handling, a capability not provided by current commercial safety approaches.
Chemically inert tracer formulation: Xanthene dye has documented chemical stability in HF environments and is not expected to alter acid reactivity, concentration, or intended function.
Early-window treatment support: Detection prior to symptom onset is intended to expand the effective window for decontamination and calcium gluconate application, both of which are more effective when administered early.
Leak detection in system processes: Secondarily, this product improves leak detection in industrial processes by creating a high visibility and distinct HF appearance that can reduce detection time and differentiate HF from other clear fluids used in the process.
Potential Applications
Industrial HF handling operations in petroleum refining, semiconductor etch, glass manufacturing, and pharmaceutical synthesis.
Worker post-task self-survey using portable UV light sources following HF-handling tasks.
Facility leak and spill detection through UV scanning of work surfaces and equipment exteriors.
Laboratory and small-scale research environments where engineering controls may be less robust.
Battelle Energy Alliance, representing the Department of Energy, is seeking interested parties to license a fluorescent tracer technology developed at Idaho National Laboratory for detecting hydrofluoric acid exposure. This special notice, identified by solicitation number BA-1719, involves NAICS code 325180 for Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing and PSC H268 for EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS TESTING- CHEMICALS AND CHEMICAL PRODUCTS. The opportunity is not a procurement of goods or services but a technology transfer initiative located in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with no set-aside restrictions (NONE). Responses are due by June 30, 2026, and should be directed to point of contact Javier Martinez.
The technology addresses a safety gap in industries such as petroleum refining, semiconductor manufacturing, and pharmaceutical synthesis where hydrofluoric acid is utilized. It consists of a UV-fluorescent tracer additive made from xanthene powder that remains chemically inert when added to the acid. This additive allows workers to use a UV light source to survey skin, clothing, and surfaces for accidental contact that might otherwise go undetected due to the delayed onset of symptoms associated with low-concentration acid exposure. By identifying contact before physiological damage occurs, the tracer supports immediate decontamination and early administration of first aid.
In addition to worker self-surveys, the formulation serves as a secondary detection layer for facility leaks and spills by creating high visibility under UV scanning, which helps differentiate the acid from other clear fluids. The tracer is designed to maintain chemical stability without altering the reactivity or concentration of the acid. This licensing opportunity aims to integrate the detection method into existing industrial safety frameworks alongside standard personal protective equipment and engineering controls.
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