title: Development and initial calibration of a portable laser-induced fluorescence system used for in situ measurements of trace plastics and dissolved organic compounds in seawater and the Gulf of Mexico.
abstract: A portable UV laser-induced fluorescence system that uses a high pulsed repetition frequency (8-kHz) microchip laser at 266 nm, 13 switchable optical filters, and a gated photomultiplier tube detector has been developed and tested successfully for the detection of leached plastics (possibly bisphenol-A) and trace dissolved organic compounds in seawater. The instrument is 100 times more sensitive than commercial portable spectrofluorometers and measures a complete fluorescence spectrum in a moderate time period of 1-2 min. The system was tested in the Gulf of Mexico over varying water masses. In addition, fluorescence lifetime, bleaching, and temporal flow characteristics were studied.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, 4202 East Fowler Avenue, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620-9951, USA.
authors.forename: Vasanthi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sivaprakasam
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Shannon
authors.forename: Caiyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Paula G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Coble
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boehme
authors.forename: Dennis K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Killinger