Patent ID: 8178306

Claim:
A system for measuring heavy metals or pollutants, comprising: a sensor for detecting a presence of a heavy metal or pollutant on a surface or associated with an object; a ligand surface on the sensor for receiving a sample amount of the heavy metal or pollutant from the surface or from the object for measurement; wherein the ligand surface binds with atoms or ions of the heavy metal or pollutant in a ratio representative of the heavy metal or pollutant on the surface or in the object; wherein the sensor comprises a nano-porous membrane-based sensor and a binding agent is applied to nano wells of the nano-porous membrane-based sensor in order to secure a ligand to the nano wells, the ligand binding the heavy metal or pollutant for measurement by the nano-porous membrane-based sensor; and wherein the ligand comprises one of a legume protein, a pulse legume protein, a vegetable protein, a grain protein, EDTA, phytic acid, or a phytic acid derivative.