FIBER OPTIC CHEMICAL SENSORS (FOCS) FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF PH, CO2 AND O2 IN SEAWATER

THE USE OF THE FIBER OPTIC CHEMICAL SENSORS (FOCS) IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO NOOAA'S NEED FOR BETTER OCEAN INSTRUMENT ATION AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS. "SMALL CHEMISTRY LABORATORIES" ARE ATTACHED TO THE DISTAL END OF OPTICAL FIBERS TO SPECIFIC, SENSITIVE MEASUREMENTS OF PRESELECTED SPECIES. 4589 THE REGIONAL OFFICE. DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF CO2 AND O2 WILL BE RESEARCH ED AND DEVELOPED. SPECIFIC GOALS WILL BE TO: (1) RESEARCH, DESIGN, AND CONSTRUCT SEA WATER COMPATIBLE PH, C02, AND O2, FOCS WHICH (DURING PHASE II) CAN BE MADE RUGGED, LONG-LIVED (> 6 MONTHS UNDER CONTINOUS OPERATION), AND REPEATABLE (+ 3%BETWEEN FOCS); (II) DEFINE AND DESIGN A FOCS READER (SPECTROMETER) WHICH IS SUITABLE FOR OPERATION UNDER NOAA-SPECIFIED CONDITIONS; (III) ASSESS THE NEAR-AND FAR-TERM COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT MARKETS FOR FOCS; AND (IV) ARRANGE FOR POSSIBLE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR PHASE III. THE POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATION AS DESCRIBED BY THE AWARDEE: POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: (1) MONITORING SEA WATER POLLUTION, (11) CONTROLLING SALT CONTENT IN COOLING DEVICES WHICH USE SEA WATER, (III) OVERSEEING SALT AND MINERAL RECOVERY FROM SEA WATER, (III) OVERSEEING SALT AND MINERAL RECOVERY FROM SEA WATER, (IV) AIDING IN CROP MANAGEMENT, AND (V) IMPROVING FISH POPULATIONS.