astkCARE

astkCARE™: anionic surfactant detection

CRC CARE developed the anionic surfactant test kit (astkCARE) to provide a safe, sensitive and reliable method to detect and measure the concentration of highly toxic surfactants, including PFAS, in the environment. These toxicity studies show surfactants can come from industrial and institutional cleaning solutions, industrial effluent or applications such as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs), or even personal hygiene products such as soaps, shower gels and domestic cleaning solutions. The low rate of biodegradability and residual toxicity of AFFFs and the effects of background levels of alkyl benzene sulfonates (which can affect reproduction of aquatic organisms) are two issues of environmental concern.

Smartphone app and reading kit

CRC CARE has created a smartphone app and portable reading kit that allows quick, accurate analysis in the lab or field. This kit is now available for purchase. Visit the astkCARE Q&A page for more information.

As used by the Department of Defence

This technology has been a significant development as part of the Department of Defence demonstration program and astkCARE™ kits are in wide use across Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) defence bases.

Benefits

astkCARE™ benefits include:

• available for use with a smartphone app or colour indicator
• simple to use, does not require highly skilled operators and can be used in the field
• achieves rapid results
• cheaper and safer than established techniques that rely on hazardous solvents such as chloroform, which is used in existing methylene blue active substances (MBAS) assays
• high specificity and reliability.

Our ongoing research targets safety, accuracy and cost-effectiveness through the availability of in-field performance technology. The technology is at an early stage of commercialisation.