Development of a Mass Spectrometer for Deployment on Moorings and Cabled Observatories for Long term Unattended Observation of Low Molecular Weight Chemicals in the Water Column

PIs提议利用NOPP的资金来促进TETHYS （teteted Yearlong Spectrometer）的商业化，TETHYS是一种质谱仪，通过与Monitor Instruments Company LLC （Monitor）的合作，可以长期无人值守地部署在系泊和有线天文台上。提议的质谱仪将基于MonitorInstruments的微型质谱仪（MMA）和WHOI开发的海洋学组件。世卫组织将在其深潜实验室和玛莎葡萄园岛海岸观测站进行测试和试验部署。TETHYS仪器将被优化为长期测量低分子量溶解生物气体、大气气体和惰性气体以及高达50 AMU的轻烃化合物。该仪器的最低检测限度为十亿分之一，并能够在浅水到整个海洋深度部署。它将利用WHOI目前正在开发的技术，实现现场自动重新校准，还将包括防污措施，这是长期部署的一个重要考虑因素。更广泛的影响世卫组织与Monitor之间的伙伴关系提供了开发新型原位质谱仪的潜力，这种质谱仪可能具有广泛的基础科学/研究应用，与开发和使用浅水和深水海洋观测站高度相关。这项工作可能会产生一种新的、商业上可行的传感器，其应用范围从基础科学到资源管理。

The PIs propose to use the NOPP funding to promote commercialization of the TETHYS (TETHered Yearlong Spectrometer), a mass spectrometer for long-term unattended deployment on moorings and cabled observatories through a collaboration with Monitor Instruments Company LLC (Monitor). The proposed mass spectrometer will be based on MonitorInstruments miniature mass analyzer (MMA) and oceanographic components developed by WHOI. Testing and trial deployments will be carried out by WHOI at its Deep Submergence Laboratory and Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory. The TETHYS instrument will be optimized for long-term measurement of low molecular weight dissolved biogenic, atmospheric, and noble gases as well as light hydrocarbon compounds up to 50 AMU. This instrument will have minimum limits of detection on the order of parts-per-billion and be capable of shallow water to full ocean depth deployment. It will utilize techniques currently under development at WHOI to enable automated re-calibration in-situ and will also include measures for anti-fouling, an essential consideration for long-term deployment. Broader ImpactsThe partnership between WHOI and Monitor offers the potential of developing a new class of in situ mass spectrometer that potentially has a wide range of basic science/research applications highly relevant to development and use of both shallow- and deep-water ocean observatories. The work proposed could result in a new, commercially viable sensor that has applications ranging from basic science to resource management.