Multi-parameter system for marine environmental applications

The contamination of sea waters by pollutants is a subject of growing public concern. The existing monitoring process is costing an estimated 350 million Euros/year in the EU. Most of the detection methods are laboratory-based, which require extensive sample preparation prior to analysis and, hence are not suitable for on-site analysis. Here a multi-sensor system is described for eventual deployment in a port. The system can provide an accurate assessment of the water quality through monitoring a variety of different parameters. Copper detection, conductivity measurements and redox potential measurements are described, and the stability of each sensor in artificial seawater is estimated.