NEXOS Project

The NEXOS (Next generation, Cost-effective, Compact, Multifunctional Web Enabled Ocean Sensor Systems Empowering Marine, Maritime and Fisheries Management) (FP7-OCEAN-2013) project enabled to complete the adaptation of the MiniFluo to the Sea Explorer glider platform. The first version of the MiniFluo was developed as a field-portable fluorometer with two optical channels (cf IBISCUS project), enabling the simultaneous detection/quantification of 2 fluorescent compounds of interest (1 compound per optical channel). In its original version, the two optical channels were targeting the detection of Phenanthrene-like (Phe-like) and Naphthalene-like (Naph-like) fluorophores from discrete water samples. Based on this first prototype, a new submersible version is now compatible with underwater gliders SeaExplorer, and exhibits significant improvements in term of opto-electronic architecture. In addition to these improvements, the number of fluorophores to be detected has been extended with the addition of Fluorene-like (Flu-like) and Pyrene-like (Pyr-like). This new version is now commercialized by Alseamar-Alcen (Europarc, 13590 Meyreuil), also the manufacturer of the SeaExplorer glider. It is suggested that the package SeaExplorer glider/MiniFluo sensor is a powerful assessment tool to track dissolved hydrocarbons in natural waters. In the poster below, examples of the performances of this technology are presented from a campaign realized in the proximity of an oil & gas field in the North Sea.

See more @ : NEXOS Poster