Open AccessA novel, low-cost, high performance dissolved methane sensor for aqueous environments
Author(s) -
Cédric Boulart,
Matthew C. Mowlem,
Douglas P. Connelly,
JeanPierre Dutasta,
Christopher R. German
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.012607
Subject(s) - polydimethylsiloxane , detection limit , refractive index , materials science , surface plasmon resonance , methane , miniaturization , aqueous solution , calibration , refractometry , optics , analytical chemistry (journal) , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , chemistry , chromatography , statistics , mathematics , organic chemistry , physics , nanoparticle
A new method for in-situ detection and measurement of dissolved methane in aqueous media/environments with a limit of detection of 0.2 nM (3 sigma, and t90 approxiamtely 110s) and range (1-300 nM) is presented. The detection method is based on refractive index (RI) modulation of a modified PolyDiMethylSiloxane (PDMS) layer incorporating molecules of cryptophane-A [1] which have a selective and reversible affinity for methane [2]. The refractive index is accurately determined using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) [3]. A prototype sensor has been repeatedly tested, using a dissolved gas calibration system under a range of temperature and salinity regimes. Laboratory-based results show that the technique is specific, sensitive, and reversible. The method is suitable for miniaturization and incorporation into in situ sensor technology.