Industry Partnership: Lab on Chip Chemical Sensor Technology for Ocean Observing

Abstract

We introduce for the first time a new product line able to make high accuracy measurements of a number of water chemistry parameters in situ: i.e., submerged in the environment including in the deep sea (to 6,000 m). This product is based on the developments of in situ lab on chip technology at the National Oceanography Centre (NOC), and the University of Southampton and is produced under license by Clearwater Sensors Ltd., a start-up and industrial partner in bringing this technology to global availability and further developing its potential. The technology has already been deployed by the NOC, and with their partners worldwide over 200 times including to depths of ∼4,800 m, in turbid estuaries and rivers, and for up to a year in seasonally ice-covered regions of the arctic. The technology is capable of making accurate determinations of chemical and biological parameters that require reagents and which produce an electrical, absorbance, fluorescence, or luminescence signal. As such it is suitable for a wide range of environmental measurements. Whilst further parameters are in development across this partnership, Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate, Silicate, Iron, and pH sensors are currently available commercially. Theses sensors use microfluidics and optics combined in an optofluidic chip with electromechanical valves and pumps mounted upon it to mix water samples with reagents and measure the optical response. An overview of the sensors and the underlying components and technologies is given together with examples of deployments and integrations with observing platforms such as gliders, autonomous underwater vehicles and moorings.

On the Use of Polymer-Based Composites for the Creation of Optical Sensors: A Review

“…Lab-on-chip systems could also be used in the analysis of environmental objects. For example, they are capable to perform simultaneous measurements of water chemistry parameters with high accuracy [ 243 ]. At the same time, they can be used even in extremal conditions, for example, at depths down to 6000 m. The latter system is produced under license by Clearwater Sensors Ltd. (Southampton, UK) and utilizes the in situ lab-on-chip technology from the University of Southampton and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC).…”

Approaches to Unmask Functioning of the Uncultured Microbial Majority From Extreme Habitats on the Seafloor

“…This is essential if aiming to understand the role of microbes for ocean ecosystem functioning. Deep-sea sensors are efficient tools for observing local geochemistry, allowing real-time monitoring of certain key chemical variables such as pH, dissolved H 2 , H 2 S, CH 4 , CO 2 , and dissolved inorganic nutrients ( Luther et al, 2001 ; Moore et al, 2009 ; Petersen et al, 2011 ; Wankel et al, 2011 ; Perner et al, 2013 ; Daniel et al, 2020 ; Gros et al, 2021 ; Liang et al, 2021 ; Mowlem et al, 2021 ). However, technical limitations require that various chemical parameters still have to be determined ex situ ( Mowlem et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Deep-sea sensors are efficient tools for observing local geochemistry, allowing real-time monitoring of certain key chemical variables such as pH, dissolved H 2 , H 2 S, CH 4 , CO 2 , and dissolved inorganic nutrients ( Luther et al, 2001 ; Moore et al, 2009 ; Petersen et al, 2011 ; Wankel et al, 2011 ; Perner et al, 2013 ; Daniel et al, 2020 ; Gros et al, 2021 ; Liang et al, 2021 ; Mowlem et al, 2021 ). However, technical limitations require that various chemical parameters still have to be determined ex situ ( Mowlem et al, 2021 ). Although in situ filtration allows reduction of chemical alteration caused by precipitation and/or adsorption of some dissolved elements during transit from the seafloor to the ship’s research laboratory, it is evident that the most representative data on deep-sea fluid chemistry would be provided by direct in situ measurements ( Sievert and Vetriani, 2012 ; Cotte et al, 2015 ).…”

Optical Oxygen Sensing and Clark Electrode: Face-to-Face in a Biosensor Case Study

“…To achieve this goal, we decided to use microfluidic technology due to a number of advantages [ 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. It allows for minimizing the volume of the analyzed sample, achieving good reproducibility of the hydrodynamic and temperature conditions of the experiment, which leads to a decrease in the dispersion of readings.…”