Modified VG-CL Detection System for Baseline Assessment of Dimethylsulphide and Dimethylsulphoniopropionate in Tropical Atlantic Seawater

Abstract

Several studies have been carried out to measure the concentrations of dimethylsulphide (DMS) and dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) in coastal and open marine ecosystems. The present study attempted the fabrication of a cost-effective, highly sensitive and portable detection system based on vapour generation and chemiluminescence for a pilot assessment and determination of DMS and DMSP concentrations in tropical Atlantic seawater samples. The Sultan Beach and Badagry parts of the Atlantic Ocean were chosen as designated locations for this study. Vapour generation chemiluminescence (VG-CL) detection system is a device that can measure the concentration (nM) of DMS and DMSP by allowing DMS vapour which in turn reacts with ozone to produce chemiluminescence which can be detected by a photomultiplier (PMT). The mean concentrations of DMS and DMSP in the surface seawater at the sampling location were 5.80±0.71 to 19.40±0.57 nM and 11.00±0.42 to 34.70±1.13 nM, respectively. The average minimum and maximum concentrations of DMS and DMSP across the location were between 0 and 40.91 nM, respectively. This study serves as a baseline measurement of DMS concentrations in the tropical Atlantic Ocean (Lagos).