Aquatic sample analysis system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9945831-B2
Application number	US-201514808757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2015
Priority date	May 20, 2011
Publication date	Apr 17, 2018
Grant date	Apr 17, 2018

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 incubation chamber forming an opening for receiving a fluidic sample and adapted for use in the light;
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 during 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 gross respiration rate is determined for a wastewater management operation.

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

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

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

6. The system of claim 3 , 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.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one open end is sealable with a hinged cap.

8. 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.

9. 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.

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

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

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the incubation chamber is substantially optically opaque, the system further comprising a substantially optically clear incubation chamber.

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

14. The system of claim 13 , 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.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the control module is adapted to compare respective outputs of the substantially optically clear incubation chamber sensor and the oxygen sensor.

16. The system of claim 15 , 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.

17. 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 a first incubation chamber at the location of interest;
measuring, in situ and without influence of a production rate contribution, an oxygen concentration associated with the sample over an incubation period;
calculating, without influence of a production rate contribution, a gross respiration rate; and
opening and closing repeatedly the first incubation chamber while in situ to obtain additional fluidic samples.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fluidic sample is sampled from wastewater management operation.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the aquatic sample analysis system further comprises a second incubation chamber comprising a substantially optically clear portion.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein a portion of the fluidic sample is disposed in each of the first incubation chamber and the second incubation chamber.

21. The method of claim 19 , 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 first incubation chamber;
calculating a net primary production rate based at least in part on a rate-of-change of oxygen concentration in the second incubation chamber; and
determining the gross primary production rate based thereon.

22. The method of claim 17 , further capably comprising:
releasing the fluidic sample repeatedly; and
obtaining a new fluidic sample repeatedly.

23. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of adjusting incubation conditions, wherein the incubation conditions comprise at least one of sensor parameters and incubation times.

Assignees

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Inst
• Univ Of Washington Center For Commercialization

Inventors

• Van Mooy Benjamin A S
• Keil Richard G

Classifications

• G01N33/1806 Primary

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

• G01N33/1826

  Organic contamination in water · CPC title

• G01N2021/6432

  Quenching · CPC title

• G01N21/80

  Indicating pH value · CPC title

• G01N21/78

  producing a change of colour · CPC title