IN-SITU FIBER OPTIC CHEMICAL SENSORS FOR FRESHWATER AQUACULATURE

FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR IMPROVED INSTRUMENTATION TO MONITOR WATER QUALITY. CLOSED LOOP CONTROL OF WATER QUALITY PROVIDES ADDITIONAL ADVANTAGES TO THIS GROWING WORLDWIDE INDUSTRY. THE PROJECT IS DEVELOPING SYSTEMS TO MONITOR AND CONTROL WATER QUALITY IN FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE. THESE SYSTEMS ARE BASED ON THE USE OF NOVEL FIBER OPTIC CHEMICAL SENSORS OR OPTRODES. THIS TYPE OF SENSOR IS WELL SUITED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF CONTINUOUS IN-SITU MONITORING OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS. THE SYSTEMS BEING DEVELOPED ARE INCREASING AQUACULTURE GROWTH RATES, PRODUCTIVITY, AND EFFICIENCY IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE FACILITIES. THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CHEMICAL SENSORS IN FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE ARE BEING ASSESSED. AN AMMONIA OPTRODE IS BEING DESIGNED, FABRICATED, AND CALIBRATED IN THE LABORATORY. THIS SENSOR IS EVALUATED IN A RECIRCULATING AQUASYSTEM. CONCEPTS FOR CHEMICAL SENSORS TO DETECT OTHER CHEMICAL SPECIES OR WATER PARAMETERS IDENTIFIED IN THE REQUIREMENTS ASSESSMENTS ARE BEING DEVELOPED. A CONCEPT FOR A SYSTEM THAT BOTH MONITORS AND CONTROLS WATER QUALITY IN FRESHWATER AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS IS BEING DEVELOPED.