Marine Pollution Detection with Real-time Sensors

Marine and terrestrial waters provide vital ecosystem services to humans, and these services are currently subject to multiple stressors that are both increasing and changing, creating complex and often unpredictable feedbacks. Hence, a great challenge in the area of detection of pollutants in natural waters is the development of autonomous chemical sensors using electrochemical techniques and also microfluidic optical techniques, with devices which are user-friendly, robust, and selective, with low detection limits and allowing fast analysis. The application as part of water quality and pollution control measures of microfluidic approaches for nutrient sensors, and utilizing polymers in sensors for the detection of trace elements, forms an important and promising analytical development.

The aim of this project is to develop sensor technologies for pollutants in natural waters based on nanoparticle modified electrodes for trace metals and microfluidic technologies for phosphate. Our approach will lead to low ‘cost-per-measurement’ although the measurements that can be undertaken are currently technology limited for a number of desired biogeochemical parameters. To understand and take action to limit metal pollution, eutrophication and deoxygenation, long-term stable and accurate in situ sensors for metals (Pb, Hg, Cd, Cu), phosphate are needed and this is the main focus of this project.

We will improve the metrology of the proposed sensor system through incorporation of in situ standards and reference materials, and conduct validation and deployment of the sensors in fresh and marine waters.