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Optical fiber detector for monitoring volatile hydrocarbons during electrokinetic treatment of polluted soil
Author(s) -
García Jose A,
MonzónHernández David,
Cuevas Oswaldo,
NoriegaLuna Berenice,
Bustos Erika
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4941
Subject(s) - optical fiber , materials science , electrokinetic phenomena , fiber optic sensor , emulsion , volatile organic compound , fiber , attenuation , fabrication , acetone , isopropyl alcohol , analytical chemistry (journal) , composite material , chemistry , chromatography , optics , nanotechnology , medicine , physics , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , pathology , biochemistry
Abstract BACKGROUND This work proposes an optical fiber sensor to monitor the presence of volatile organic compounds ( VOCs ). The sensor consists of a single‐mode fiber 1 cm long, coated with a composite of Prussian blue and an acrylic polymeric emulsion, inserted between two multimode fibers. RESULTS The presence of VOCs modifies the optical properties of the composite layer and produces attenuation changes of the evanescent field. These attenuation changes can be easily monitored by a simple experimental set‐up. The fabrication of the sensor is very simple which makes this sensor very attractive. The fabricated sensor was tested with three different VOC gases, acetone, isopropyl alcohol and chloroform. The response of the sensor was different for each gas, but in all cases the regression analysis was linear. CONCLUSION It was demonstrated that this VOC sensor can be used to detect volatile hydrocarbons, generated or forced to migrate from the solid phase (soil) to the gas phase (air) during the application of electrokinetic treatment to the polluted soil or in the environment. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry