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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.
The Department of Energy, through the Battelle Energy Alliance–DOE CNTR at Idaho National Laboratory, is offering a technology licensing opportunity for a fluorescent tracer technology designed for hydrofluoric acid (HF) exposure detection. This technology involves a UV-fluorescent tracer additive created from xanthene powder that remains chemically inert while enabling workers to survey skin, clothing, or surfaces using a UV light source. Because low concentrations of HF can cause significant tissue damage before symptoms appear, the tracer is intended to support immediate decontamination and first aid by indicating contact before acid penetrates the skin. The solution serves as a complementary detection layer for industries such as petroleum refining, semiconductor manufacturing, and pharmaceutical synthesis.
This opportunity, identified by solicitation number BA-1719, is categorized under NAICS 325180 for Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing and PSC H268 for Equipment and Materials Testing- Chemicals and Chemical Products. There is no set-aside associated with this notice, coded as set-aside NONE; explanation: NONE. This is not a procurement for products or services; rather, the agency is seeking interested parties to discuss licensing terms and partnership opportunities through the laboratory's Technology Deployment office. The primary place of performance is Idaho Falls, Idaho, and Javier Martinez is the designated point of contact.
The notice was published on May 22, 2026, and the response deadline for interested parties is June 30, 2026. Beyond worker safety, the technology is designed to improve leak detection in industrial processes by creating high visibility for HF, which can reduce detection time and help differentiate the acid from other clear fluids. Potential applications range from large-scale industrial handling and facility leak scanning to laboratory and small-scale research environments.
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