Phase One Construction of an In-Situ Mass Spectrometer
Abstract
Long term goals for this project include deployment of mass spectrometers on network class autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for in-situ detection, plus quantification and mapping of both volatile and non-volatile species in the water column. Ultimately we envision adaptation of our instruments as self-directed, true panoramic chemical sensors capable of, e.g., tracing dispersion of chemicals from point sources and investigating the evolution of reactive chemical species. The objective for this phase-one effort was to demonstrate, in the laboratory, the feasibility of using mass spectrometry as an underwater chemical sensor on an AUV. This effort was to include: a demonstration of the viability of mass spectrometry to detect compounds/elements of interest at concentrations found in the marine environment; construction of an interface for transporting analytes from solution phase to the vacuum of the mass spectrometer; evaluation of packaging requirements for deploying a mass spectrometer as an AUV payload; and development of a scheme for maintaining vacuum inside the mass spectrometer while underwater.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA539501
Entities
People
- Robert H. Byrne
Organizations
- University of South Florida