OCE-RIG: Investigating the Use of LIBS for In Situ Heavy Metal Analysis in Ocean Sediments

概述：与人为输入有关的海洋沉积物中的重金属污染往往需要补救努力和长期监测。这种监测是时间密集的，需要采样、样品处理和分析。开发能够测量沉积物中重金属的现场传感器将使快速分析和大空间观测成为可能。激光诱导击穿光谱（LIBS）具有发展成为重金属原位沉积物传感器的潜力。智力优势：由于航运、废物管理不善和人为输入，港口和沿海环境中存在高度污染的沉积物。由于受污染的沉积物对渔业、贝壳捕捞、底栖生物群落和人类健康有害，包括马萨诸塞州新贝德福德在内的许多地区正在进行补救工作。最令人担忧的是高浓度的重金属。沉积物中重金属的测量对于确定应作为修复目标的高水平区域以及在修复工作期间和之后监测重金属水平具有重要意义。由于现有的技术，沉积物中重金属水平的大空间调查是费时的。沉积物必须被收集、处理和分析。激光诱导击穿光谱（LIBS）可以提供样品的快速，多元素分析，几乎是非破坏性的，不需要消耗品或样品制备，并且可以在对峙配置中使用。这些特征是沉积物原位分析所需要的。在这个项目中，研究者将进行实验室实验来研究使用LIBS进行原位沉积物分析的潜力。通过未来可部署在自主水下航行器或远程操作航行器上的原位传感器的发展，沉积物的实时空间测量将是可行的。更广泛的影响：研究者旨在通过指导代表性不足的群体并鼓励学生继续追求他们在该领域的兴趣来增加海洋科学的多样性。研究者将指导一名暑期少数民族本科研究员开发他/她自己的与LIBS项目相关的研究项目。学生将在实验室获得跨学科的经验，并参与研究日游船。为了吸引更多的女学生学习海洋科学，将以10 ~ 12岁的女学生为对象，在星期六举办2次宣传活动，重点是向女孩介绍海洋科学。

Overview: Heavy metal contamination in ocean sediments linked to anthropogenic inputs often requires remediation efforts and long term monitoring. Such monitoring is time intensive, requiring sampling, sample processing, and analysis. Developing in situ sensors capable of measuring heavy metals in sediments would enable rapid analysis and large spatial observations. Laser induced-breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has the potential to be developed into an in situ sediment sensor for heavy metal analysis. Intellectual Merit: Highly contaminated sediments exist in harbors and coastal environments due to shipping, poor management of waste, and anthropogenic inputs. Because contaminated sediment is detrimental to fisheries, shell fishing, benthic communities and human health, remediation efforts are underway in many areas including New Bedford, MA. Of key concern are high levels of heavy metals. Measurement of heavy metals in sediments is of interest for identifying areas with elevated levels that should be targeted for remediation and for monitoring levels during and after remediation efforts. Large spatial surveys of heavy metal levels in sediments is time intensive due to the current technologies that exist. Sediments must be collected, processed, and analyzed. Laser induced-breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) can provide rapid, multi-element analysis of samples, is virtually non-destructive, requires no consumables or sample preparation, and can be used in a standoff configuration. Such characteristics are those required for in situ analysis of sediments. In this project, the investigator will conduct laboratory experiments to investigate the potential for using LIBS for in situ sediment analysis. Through the future development of an in situ sensor deployable on an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle or Remotely Operated Vehicle, real-time spatial measurements of sediments will be feasible. Broader Impacts: The investigator aims to increase diversity in ocean sciences by mentoring underrepresented groups and encouraging students to continue to pursue their interests in the field. The investigator will mentor a Summer Minority Undergraduate Fellow in developing his/her own research project related to the LIBS project. The student will gain interdisciplinary experiences in the laboratory and be involved in research day cruises. In an effort to attract and recruit more female students to ocean science, two Saturday outreach events will be developed for female students aged ten to twelve, which will focus on introducing girls to ocean science.