PHORCYS Marine Biological Oxygen Demand Sensor

Inventor: Ben Van Mooy, Richard Keil
Publication No. US 9188512 B2

Overview: Ocean conditions such as pressure and temperature have specific and profound effects on biota.  Sampling and recovery of biota to the surface, causes changes in organism metabolism, phenotype, and/or genetic expression, making study of recovered organisms inaccurate or irrelevant.  Biological Oxygen Demand as an indicator of the metabolic state of an organism is of particular interest in many oceanographic studies and can benefit from in situ measurement.

Technology: PHORCYS (PHOtosynthesis, Respiration, and Carbon balance Yielding System)

PHORCYS is a semi-autonomous submersible sensor system that passively samples the water column in situ. The sensor performs real time, direct oxygen consumption measurements for quick turn-around. Oxygen concentrations are tracked on passively acquired samples using oxygen optodes in incubations conducted at the depth and/or location where samples are taken. Data are transmitted directly without the need for sample recovery, disposal, or manipulation. Time-based recordings are made from both light-exposed and dark (control) sample chambers.  No wet chemistry is involved and the device may be operated and maintained by personnel with minimal training. Working research prototypes have been developed, and a patent issued.