Aquatic sample analysis system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9188512-B2
Application number	US-201213476531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2012
Priority date	May 20, 2011
Publication date	Nov 17, 2015
Grant date	Nov 17, 2015

Abstract

According to one aspect, the invention relates to an aquatic sample analysis system adapted for in situ use. The system includes an incubation chamber having an optically clear portion and forming an opening for receiving a fluidic sample and apparatus for sealing the opening. The system also includes a sensor for sensing at least one parameter associated with the sample inside the chamber, a control module in communication with the sensor, and a power source.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aquatic sample analysis system adapted for in situ use, the system comprising:
an optically opaque incubation chamber forming an opening for receiving a fluidic sample;
a seal for sealing the opening;
an oxygen sensor capable of sensing an oxygen concentration associated with the sample inside the chamber in real time;
a control module in communication with the sensor and adapted to determine a gross respiration rate in daylight without influence of a production rate contribution and to repeatedly open and close the incubation chamber while in situ; and
a power source.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the chamber comprises a tube with at least one open end covered by the seal.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable by a seal consisting of a spring-loaded cap.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the spring-loaded cap is biased toward a sealing position.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable with a valve, wherein the valve is capable of automatically and repeatedly opening and closing the incubation chamber when disposed.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable with a hinged cap.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising an additional sensor for sensing at least one parameter associated with the fluidic sample, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of a nitrate concentration, a carbon dioxide concentration, and a pH.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises at least one sensor selected from the group consisting of a UV-based nitrate detector, a colorimetric carbon dioxide sensor, and a colorimetric pH sensor.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control module is adapted to provide power to the sensor and receive a sensor output.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the control module further stores the sensor output.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising an optically clear incubation chamber.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the clear chamber comprises a sensor for sensing at least one parameter associated with a sample inside the clear chamber.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group consisting of an oxygen concentration, a nitrate concentration, a carbon dioxide concentration, and a pH.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the control module is adapted to compare respective outputs of the clear chamber sensor and the opaque chamber sensor.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control module is adapted to determine at least one of an instantaneous oxygen concentration, a gross respiration rate, a gross primary production rate, and a net primary production rate.

16. A method of analyzing an aquatic parameter in situ comprising the steps of:
deploying an aquatic sample analysis system to a location of interest;
obtaining a fluidic sample within an optically opaque incubation chamber at the location of interest;
measuring during daylight an oxygen concentration associated with the sample over an incubation period in situ;
calculating a gross respiration rate without influence of a production rate contribution; and
opening and closing repeatedly the incubation chamber while in situ to obtain additional fluidic samples.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the aquatic sample analysis system further comprises an incubation chamber comprising an optically clear portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein a portion of the fluidic sample is disposed in each incubation chamber.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the calculating step comprises:
calculating the gross respiration rate based at least in part on a rate-of-change of oxygen concentration in the optically opaque incubation chamber;
calculating a net primary production rate based at least in part on a rate-of-change of oxygen concentration in the optically clear incubation chamber; and
determining a gross primary production rate based thereon.

20. The method of claim 16 , further capably comprising:
releasing the fluidic sample repeatedly; and
obtaining a new fluidic sample repeatedly.

21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of adjusting incubation conditions, wherein the incubation conditions comprise at least one of sensor parameters and incubation times.

Assignees

• Van Mooy Benjamin A S
• Keil Richard G
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst

Inventors

• Van Mooy Benjamin A S
• Keil Richard G

Classifications

• G01N33/1806 Primary

  Biological oxygen demand [BOD] or chemical oxygen demand [COD] · CPC title

• G01N1/10 Primary

  in the liquid or fluent state {(burettes, pipettes B01L3/02; sampling of ground water E02D1/06; metering by volume of fluids or fluent solid material G01F11/00, G01F13/00)} · CPC title

• G01N33/18

  Water · CPC title

• G01N33/1826

  Organic contamination in water · CPC title

• G01N33/1886

  using probes, e.g. submersible probes, buoys · CPC title