Long-term in situ chemical sensors for monitoring nutrients: phosphate sensor commercialization and ammonium sensor development

PI的要求资金开发可靠的，准确的，稳定的原位营养传感器的长期海洋观测。WET Labs一直在开发一套核心技术，利用光学检测技术，使用低容量，基于试剂的反应化学来确定营养物浓度。这项开发一直在与SubChem合作进行，重点是磷酸盐浓度的原位测量，并已形成成熟的原型传感器。使用该系统获得的现场数据的评估表明，测量技术是鲁棒的，并且传感器提供稳定和准确的读数。 此外，PI？s将开发一种铵传感器，使用与磷酸盐传感器类似的技术。这可能会涉及到多一种试剂，因此泵，并可能荧光检测，这将需要重新设计歧管为此目的。 溶解营养物动态广泛影响与公共健康，生态系统状况和资源可持续性相关的问题，包括气候变化，富营养化，有害藻类水华，碳循环和物种组成等的影响。关于海洋观测和水质监测的几份国家报告明确指出，需要有就地、自主和实时的营养监测能力。长期、可靠、可追踪的磷酸盐和铵原位传感器的开发和商业化将有助于加强对沿海地区营养物输入（自然和人为）的监测。据推测，当污水在水柱中上升到足够高的高度与透光层相交时，营养物的添加会导致藻类大量繁殖，并可能促进有害藻类大量繁殖。提供长期营养监测能力将使科学家、环境管理人员和监管人员能够更好地了解营养排放在促成水华方面的作用及其对浮游植物群落的影响。

ABSTRACTThe PI's request funding to develop reliable, accurate, stable in situ nutrient sensors for long-term ocean observing. WET Labs has been developing a core set of technologies to utilize optical detection techniques for determination of nutrient concentrations using low volume, reagent-based reaction chemistry. This development has been ongoing in partnership with SubChem, focusing on the in situ measurement of phosphate concentration and has led to a mature prototype sensor. Evaluation of the in situ data obtained using this system has shown that the measurement technology is robust, and that the sensor provides stable and accurate readings. In addition, the PI?s will develop an Ammonium sensor using a similar technology as the Phosphate sensor. This will likely involve one more reagent and hence pump, and possibly fluorometric detection, which will require redesign the manifold for this purpose.Broader Impacts: Dissolved nutrient dynamics broadly affect issues related to public health, ecosystem status, and resource sustainability, including impacts of climate variability, eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, carbon cycling, and species composition among others. The need for in situ, autonomous, real-time nutrient monitoring capabilities has been clearly documented in several national reports on ocean observing and water quality monitoring. The development and commercialization of long-term, reliable, traceable phosphate and ammonium in situ sensors would enable enhanced monitoring of nutrient inputs (natural and anthropogenic) into the coastal zone. Nutrient additions have been postulated to contribute to algal blooms when the effluent rises sufficiently high in the water column to intersect with the euphotic zone and may promote harmful algal blooms (HABs). Providing a long-term nutrient monitoring capability would allow scientists, environmental managers and regulators to better understand the role of nutrient discharges in contributing to blooms and their effects on the phytoplankton community.