Development of Reusable Colorimetric Sensors for the Assessment of Sea Water Quality

检测我们海洋中的水质最近引起了很大的兴趣。检测越来越多的细菌、化学品和塑料污染海水，对海洋和人类生活都很重要。海洋污染的主要问题之一是它大多是无形的。开发可重复使用的比色指示器来感测水污染类型，具有多种最终用途。这将作为一种健康和安全工具。传感器可以突出水污染的有害影响。一组传感器将展示全球范围内各种形式的海洋污染有多普遍，而不仅仅是在英国，某些形式的海水测试是法律的要求。预期的最终用途将是将传感器连接到潜水衣上，监测水质。该传感器可以与Surfers Against Sewage等组织建立联系，与他们的“更安全的海洋服务”（Surfers Against Sewage，2019）联系，或由可持续冲浪品牌使用。“沿海地区和社区是全球最脆弱的地区之一”（Scott & Rogers，2018）。研究缅因州海湾的水质，他们发现冲浪者是海洋水质的重要利益相关者。他们的研究发现，96%的冲浪者对当地冲浪点的水质感兴趣。本文强调了需要一种改进的方法，沟通水质差的危险冲浪。Scott和Rogers（2017）还认为，利用冲浪者社区可能是提高海洋污染意识的最佳方式。Milindanuth和Pisitsak证明了固态比色传感器的优势;“包括易于处理，操作简单和低成本，并在不使用昂贵仪器的情况下提供定性和定量信息”（Milindanuth和Pisitsak，2018）。纳米纤维适合于传感器应用，因为它们具有高多孔性和大面积体积比的能力。在纳米纤维的生产和“有毒有机溶剂”的潜在使用方面存在挑战（Milindanuth和Pisitsak，2018）。Pietro等人，（2017）基于其高灵敏度和选择性响应确定了比色传感器。目前基于比色法的研究"都是关于尺寸、成本、原位的小型化，并且没有任何附加仪器"（Pietrium等人，2017年）。这突出了这项研究在当前气候下的相关性。Pietro等人，（2017）还讨论了纳米技术在当前传感器技术中的重要性。目标：开发可重复使用的比色传感器条，用于评估若干海洋水质指标;确定哪些水质指标最适合应用;开发基于纳米纤维和水凝胶的可重复使用的新型水质传感器技术;制作可重复使用的水质传感器条原型，其颜色会随着接触一系列污染物而改变;新型比色传感器与传统方法的性能比较。方法识别和分类当前的水质检测方法。调查和确定最常见的海洋水污染类型。将已报道的比色传感器应用于相关污染物的检测。确定最合适的基底、着色剂和测试环境。准备模拟海水（SSW）进行重复性测试。测量对污染物的比色响应以及纳米纤维和水凝胶传感器的灵敏度。将新型传感器的响应与传统的水质评估方法进行比较。该项目与EPSRC的以下主题有关：工程，物理科学，全球不确定性和制造未来。特别是传感器和仪器仪表以及水工程的研究领域。

Detecting water quality in our oceans has attracted much recent interest. Sensing the multitude of bacteria, chemicals and plastics, increasingly found polluting sea water, is important to both marine and human life. One of the main problems with ocean pollution is that it is mostly invisible. The development of reusable colorimetric indicators to sense types of water pollution, has multiple end uses. This would act as a health and safety tool. The sensor may highlight the detrimental impact of water pollution. A set of sensors would demonstrate how widespread various forms of marine pollution are globally, not just in the UK where some forms of ocean water testing are a legal requirement. The expected end use would be to attach the sensors to a wetsuit, monitoring the quality of the water. The sensor could be affiliated with organisations such as Surfers Against Sewage, linking with their 'Safer Seas Service' (Surfers Against Sewage, 2019) or utilised by sustainable surfing brands. 'Coastal areas and communities are some of the most vulnerable regions worldwide' (Scott & Rogers, 2018). Studying water quality in the Gulf of Maine, they found that surfers are an important stakeholder in ocean water quality. Their research found that 96% of the surfers included in the study were interested in the water quality at their local surf spot. This paper highlights the requirement for an improved method of communicating the dangers of poor water quality to surfers. Scott and Rogers (2017) also suggest that utilising the surfer community may be the best way to raise awareness of ocean pollution. Milindanuth and Pisitsak demonstrated the advantages of a solid-state colorimetric sensor; 'including ease of handling, operational simplicity, and low cost, and provide qualitative and quantitative information without the use of expensive instruments' (Milindanuth & Pisitsak, 2018). Nanofibres are suitable for sensor applications on account of their ability to be highly porous with a large area-to-volume ratio. There are challenges in the production of nanofibres and the potential use of 'toxic organic solvents' (Milindanuth & Pisitsak, 2018). Piriya et al., (2017) identified colorimetric sensors based on their high sensitivity and selective response. Current research based on colorimetry 'is all about the miniaturization of size, cost, in-situ and without any additional instruments', (Piriya, et al., 2017). This highlights the relevance of this research in the current climate. Piriya et al., (2017) also discuss the importance of nanotechnology in current sensor technology. AIMSDevelopment of a reusable strip of colorimetric sensors for the assessment of several ocean water quality indicators;Identification of which water quality indicators are most suitable for the application;Production of novel reusable water quality sensor technologies based on nanofibers and hydrogels;Creation of reusable prototype strips of water quality sensors that change colour with exposure to a range of pollutants;Comparison of the performance of the novel colorimetric sensors with conventional methods.METHODOLOGYIdentify and classify current water quality testing methods. Investigate and identify the most common types of ocean water pollution to be detected. Apply reported colorimetric sensors for the detection of relevant pollutants.Identify the most appropriate substrate, colorants and testing environments. Prepare Simulated Sea Water (SSW) for repeatability testing.Measure the colorimetric response to pollutants and the sensitivity of nanofibre- and hydrogel- based sensors.Compare the response of the novel sensors to traditional methods of water quality assessment.The project is related to the following EPSRC themes; Engineering, Physical Sciences, Global Uncertainties and Manufacturing the Future. In particular the research areas of Sensors and Instrumentation and Water Engineering.