Automated Instrumentation for Chemical Oceanography Based on Sequential Injection Lab-On-valve Technology

海洋学家调查和了解海洋化学过程的能力取决于化学测量技术的准确性和精密度。该项目旨在升级现有的分析方法（阀门上的微顺序注射实验室；uSI-LOV 方法），用于测量海水中溶解的铝 (Al) 和磷酸盐 (P)。铝是一种丰富的元素，用于追踪从大气进入海洋的灰尘和水团的运动。磷酸盐是海洋生物生长的必需营养素，表现出影响浮游植物生长的空间和时间变化。新颖的uSI-LOV方法将允许无人值守且准确地同时测量Al和P，这对生物地球化学循环和生态系统动力学的海洋学研究有直接好处。此外，uSI-LOV 方法包括一种巧妙的“单一标准”技术，该技术大大简化了系统的校准，可以开发用于分析 Al 和 P 之外的许多其他元素，并且可以提供改进不同研究之间相互比较的程序。该提案所产生的完善的模块化uSI-LOV系统将广泛适用于海洋学界的使用。该项目还将资助一个优秀的跨学科博士生论文机会，其中包括工程、分析化学和海洋学等方面。该项目的 PI 打算采用荧光和分光光度检测与流动注射分析相结合的微顺序注射实验室阀门 (uSI-LOV) 系统来测量海水中的铝和磷。他们将开发和评估一种新颖的“单一标准”校准过程，该过程使用单个标准注射峰的上升和下降沿的精确再现时间作为伪标准添加曲线，有可能为专为海洋中的痕量元素和营养物浓度设计的其他海水分析系统提供更好的校准。改进的 uSI-LOV 方法具有物理稳健性的优点，以及降低的功率、样品和试剂要求。该项目将在海上对磷和铝的既定船载分析方法进行相互校准期间对 uSI-LOV 系统进行现场测试，并在浅水中部署小型电池供电版本以测试自主运行。 这项工作的目标是最终在现有和未来的远程平台和自动驾驶汽车上使用 uSI-LOV 技术。成功的适应、融入化学海洋学界以及未来的部署将提供大大改进的化学数据集，这些数据集将为生物地球化学模型提供信息，并促进我们对海洋生物地球化学循环的理解的重大进步。

The ability of oceanographers to investigate and understand chemical processes in the ocean is only as good as the accuracy and precision of the techniques available for making chemical measurements. This project seeks to upgrade an existing analytical method (the micro-Sequential Injection Lab on Valve; uSI-LOV methodology) for measurement of dissolved aluminum (Al) and phosphate (P) in seawater. Aluminum is an abundant element used for tracking dust input to the ocean from the atmosphere and the movement of water masses. Phosphate is an essential nutrient for biological growth in the ocean, showing spatial and temporal variability that affects the growth of phytoplankton. The novel uSI-LOV methods would allow unattended and accurate measurement of Al and P together, with direct benefit for oceanographic research on biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics. Additionally, the uSI-LOV methodology includes an ingenious "single standard" technique that greatly simplifies calibration of the system, can be developed for analysis of many other elements beyond Al and P, and would provide a procedure for improved inter-comparison between different studies. The refined, modular uSI-LOV system produced by this proposal will be widely applicable for use by the oceanographic community. The project will also fund an excellent interdisciplinary PhD student thesis opportunity that incorporates aspects of engineering, analytical chemistry, and oceanography. The PIs on this project intend to adapt the micro-Sequential Injection Lab on Valve (uSI-LOV) system to the measurement of seawater Al and P using fluorescent and spectrophotometric detection with flow injection analysis. They will develop and evaluate a novel "single standard" calibration process that uses the precisely reproduced timing of the rising and falling edge of a single standard injection peak as a pseudo-standard addition curve, potentially providing better calibration of other seawater analytical systems designed for trace element and nutrient concentrations in the ocean. The improved uSI-LOV methodology has advantages of physical robustness, as well as lowered power, sample, and reagent requirements. The project will field test the uSI-LOV system during an at-sea intercalibration against established shipboard analytical methods for P and Al, and deploy a small battery operated version in shallow water to test autonomous operation. The work is directed at eventual use of the uSI-LOV technology on existing and future remote platforms and autonomous vehicles. Successful adaptation, integration into the chemical oceanography community, and future deployments would provide greatly improved chemical data sets that would inform biogeochemical models and promote significant advancements in our understanding of marine biogeochemical cycles.