SBIR Phase I: Development of a Low-Cost Optical-Based Probe for Detection of Red-Tide Blooms

9861436这项小型企业创新研究第一阶段项目将致力于开发探测技术，以确定有毒藻类的种类。藻类毒素可导致野生和养殖鱼类的大规模死亡，污染贝类养殖场，并因食用这些产品而导致人类疾病。一旦确定，有害的藻华通常是单一种类的。水华的生物光学“指纹”与特定的色素成分和比例有关，与该物种截然不同。这有助于基于色素的分析技术来识别、跟踪和保护水华爆发。第一阶段将研究一种新的原位监测水生系统中光合色素的探针，利用同步窄带反射/吸收/荧光(RAF)传感器来确定色素组成和物种鉴定(特别是赤潮藻类)。预计科学仪器的商业应用将在相当大的市场上实现。预计政府和私营部门在颜料分析方面的年度支出估计为2300万美元。与收集和处理有关的支出估计为2.24亿美元。

9861436 This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project will address the development of probe technology to speciate toxic algae. Algal toxins can cause mass mortality of wild and farmed fish, contaminate shellfish beds, and cause human illnesses from consumption of these products. Once established, harmful algal blooms typically are monospecific. The bio-optical "fingerprint" of the bloom, related to the specific pigment composition and ratios, is distinct to that species. This lends itself to pigment based analysis techniques for bloom onset identification, tracking, and resource protection. Phase I will investigate a novel probe for in situ monitoring photosynthetic pigments in aquatic systems, utilizing a simultaneous narrow band Reflectance/Absorption/Fluorometric (RAF) sensor for determination of pigment composition and species identification (specifically red tide algae). Commercial applications are expected in substantial markets for scientific instrumentation. Estimated annual government and private sector expenditures on pigment analysis are projected to be $23 million. Expenditures associated with collection and processing are estimated at $224 million.