Ruggedised MicroSystem Technology for marine measurement
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Electronics and Computer Science
Abstract
The oceans play a crucial role in the prosperity and future of our civilisation; as a source of natural resources, as host to industry (e.g. transport and offshore energy) and in controlling climate (global warming). Marine environmental science has reached a bottleneck where further advances in knowledge and understanding of the oceans can only be obtained if a new generation of integrated multi-parametric sensors is developed, capable of mass-deployment in the oceans. This cross research council grant application (NERC/EPSRC) is aimed at solving this technology gap. Sensors that measure ocean life and chemistry (not to be confused with physical parameters; temperature etc) are extremely limited. Such measurements underpin many scientific fields, not least the accurate modelling of the oceans' role in climate change. In addition, these sensors are also required by many industrial sectors for routine high resolution, temporal monitoring of environment parameters.Current measurement methods are based on traditional sampling and laboratory analysis, although some macro sensors and devices are being developed. Clearly this approach which will never be able to measure the oceans with sufficient resolution in space and time. New innovative sensor technologies are required - this is the theme of this project. It is proposed to develop a new ruggedised Micro System Technology (RMST) to fabricate a new generation of integrated micro-devices capable of operating in harsh environments, without bulky, expensive and power hungry support systems. The project will focus on two classes of sensing systems: Lab-on-a-chip chemical analysers to detect nutrients and pollutants at the ultra low concentrations found in the oceans; and miniature cytometers to sample and identify individual phytoplankton in the oceans. The systems will be benchmarked against traditional lab-based analytical methods and field tested in the oceans and in Scottish sea lochs aboard submersible gliders, autonomous submarines and profiling floats.
Publications
Barat D
(2012)
Simultaneous high speed optical and impedance analysis of single particles with a microfluidic cytometer.
in Lab on a chip
Barat D
(2010)
Design, simulation and characterisation of integrated optics for a microfabricated flow cytometer
in Optics Communications
Beaton A
(2011)
An automated microfluidic colourimetric sensor applied in situ to determine nitrite concentration
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Beaton AD
(2012)
Lab-on-chip measurement of nitrate and nitrite for in situ analysis of natural waters.
in Environmental science & technology
Benazzi G
(2007)
Discrimination and analysis of phytoplankton using a microfluidic cytometer.
in IET nanobiotechnology
Cortese B
(2012)
Controlling the wettability of hierarchically structured thermoplastics.
in Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
Cortese B
(2011)
Characterisation of an irreversible bonding process for COC-COC and COC-PDMS-COC sandwich structures and application to microvalves
in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Gedge M
(2012)
Acoustofluidics 17: theory and applications of surface acoustic wave devices for particle manipulation.
in Lab on a chip
| Description | This project developed a radical new technology (Ruggedised Micro System Technology (RMST)) for in-situ sensing and measurement of key biogeochemical parameters in the oceans. Test-bed systems have been fabricated and deployed in the oceans. The findings and outcomes were 1. Development of a suite of techniques for in-situ sensing of key biogeochemical oceanographic parameters. Specifically we developed new fabrication techniques to manufacture micro-systems capable of operating in harsh environments; strategies to enable ultra-low level detection of chemistry and biology in the ocean; designed and tested new-generations of actuators for harsh environment; and strategies for environmental and biofilm resistance and particle exclusion, including filters. 2. Design and manufacture of a new generation of microsystems capable of operating in harsh environments. Two complementary technologies were developed: (a) Chemistry: in situ lab-on-a-chip (LOC) analyser for analysis of inorganic compounds. (b) Marine organism analysis: in situ micro-flow cytometer for phytoplankton detection and speciation. In addition a new generation of solid-state sensors for measuring Temperature, Salinity and Oxygen were also developed The new miniature and deployable microsystems were benchmarked against state of the art instruments (laboratory flow-cytometers, automated chemical analysers). Finally, the systems were deployed in different areas, including the harsh fouling environment of the Southampton Solent Estuary; in the deep sea (to 1600m); in Glacial melt streams; and on-board Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (profiling floats) in Scottish sea lochs in winter which provided real world validation of robustness and performance. |
| Exploitation Route | The research from this project has applications in almost any sector where high quality, long term analysis of water is required. Examples includes monitoring water quality in rivers and reservoirs, monitoring discharge outlets from industry, oil and gas discovery and safety, borehole monitoring.. The large multi-sector project has led to several different exploitation routes. The project led to a new ruggedised core transferable technology platform, that has been exploited in a number of different commercialisation routes, in many different sectors. The research has led to 4 granted patents. Different aspects of the technology have been licenced to different companies, depending on the degree of maturity. For example, more mature sensing technology is licenced to a large multi-international instrumentation company. We are are also in the process of licencing and trialing technologies for other sectors and industries, including oil companies, environment agency, defence sector, and manufacturers of marine and inshore environmental sensing technologies. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment,Healthcare |
| Description | This project developed rugged sensors that are now deployed in the oceans to measure physical parameters (temperature, salinity and oxygen), chemistry and biology. We made the world's first such systems and demonstrated that they could be use to continuously measure nutrients such as nitrate, nitrite and phosphate. These sensors are being commercialised and will be cost-effective enough to enable mass deployment in the seas thus enabling high spatial and temporal monitoring of the health of the oceans. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Environment |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Title | Apparatus for sensing at least one parameter in water - combined conductivity and DO sensor |
| Description | A miniature combined dissolved oxygen and conductivity sensor for high accuracy metrology. |
| IP Reference | US20150192534 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None |
| Title | Apparatus with a Self-Cleaning Electrode for sensing at least one parameter in water. |
| Description | Marine Sensor with dissolved oxygen sensor, salinity sensor, temperature sensor and self cleaning mechanism. |
| IP Reference | US20150226697 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None |
| Title | Dissolved Oxygen sensor with electrode conditioning waveform applied between measurements |
| Description | Miniature sensor for dissolved oxygen, salinity and temperature. Operates in a flow and has high accuracy and stability. Patent describes actual driving waveforms. |
| IP Reference | US20150212040 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2015 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None at present |
| Title | MICROFLUIDIC ABSORPTION CELL |
| Description | An absorption cell for microfluidic chemical analysis made from tinted or coloured polymers, for example polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), in which microfluidic channels are cut. Light is coupled into the absorption cell via two windows (typically 200 um thick) that are retained at either end of the channel. Absorption is measured using a light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED) and a photodiode butted against the windows. Spurious scattered and/or reflected light is absorbed by the coloured polymer over the length of the measurement cell, while very little light loss occurs at the coupling windows. |
| IP Reference | US2014176952 |
| Protection | Patent granted |
| Year Protection Granted | 2014 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | None |