Electrochemical sensors for in-situ measurement of ions in seawater

In the current water monitoring panorama, certain benefits are expected to arise when the modus operandum of analysis shifts from sampling-based to purely in-situ approaches. Since the appearance of the first submersible conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) probe in the 80 s, clear efforts to move towards decentralized strategies have been reported in the literature, with some having even been brought to the stage of fruitful commercialization. Among the portfolio of available analytical techniques, only a handful of approaches offer clear potential for implementation in submersible devices, in terms of adequate analytical features, autonomy, feasibility of miniaturization, and ease of portability. Electrochemical sensors have demonstrated excellent characteristics for this purpose, particularly in the detection of ions. The present review analyses electrochemical sensors that have shown an aptitude for in-situ measurements of ions, including trace metals, nutrients, and carbon species in seawater. The previous 5 years have been selected as the main period for review, although in some instances comment is made upon earlier contributions to the field or commercialized devices, where these are deemed to exemplify crucial technological advancements. There is a notable lack of electrochemical sensors being deployed in in-situ applications, and this scarcity is even more stark when seawater is considered: only a very few cases have been demonstrated under such challenging conditions. With the aim of providing inspiration towards genuine advances in the field of in-situ seawater analysis, this work also highlights some laboratory scale research as well as studies concerning other environmental waters than seawater.

Automated summary

The shift from sampling-based to purely in-situ analysis in water monitoring is expected to bring certain benefits, with electrochemical sensors showing potential for ion detection. However, the deployment of electrochemical sensors in submersible devices, particularly in seawater, remains limited.