Development of photopolymerization for the fabrication of optically sensitive polymers for pH measurements
The Department of Energy is currently supporting the development of a fiber optic pH sensor. This sensor is being developed to monitor contaminants, which were created during the weapons development era. These contaminants are being stored in large vats while decomposition occurs. These vats have proven to be very pH sensitive, and need to be monitored. An optical sensor would be inherently safer than the traditional electric pH sensors for this task. The optical sensor is being developed using the dye fluorescein. This dye fluoresces with varying intensity when exposed to different pH environments. The dye is chemically bonded to the end of the optical sensor. Ultraviolet light is used to activate a reaction, between fluorescein and other chemicals, to create the sensor. Then a device, a fluorimeter, is used to measure the pH of a given solution. A wide range of parameters are being tested to determine how to create the best sensor, i.e. the one with the largest range over the pH scale and the fastest response time. Some of the parameters under consideration include whether to include an acid bath in the cleansing process. Also, during the photopolymerization process, limiting the wavelengths of light, the exposure time and the light intensity must be considered. Lastly, oxygen interference and the photopolymerization solution`s age have been examined. Then, a number of handling techniques have been learned. For example, the sensors require conditioning. With so many factors, the sensors have proven to be unreproducible. Understanding what effects this photopolymerization process, and how, is the key objective of this project. Without reproducible results, no sensor, no matter how good it may be, is useful.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 149607
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-ID-114972-1; CONF-9312109-Absts.; ON: DE95012452; TRN: 95:007226-0022
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Science and Engineering Research Semester (SERS) symposium, Livermore, CA (United States), 15 Dec 1993; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of Abstracts for student symposium; Goldman, B.; PB: 245 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Sol gel based fiber optic sensor for blook pH measurement
Development of multianalyte sensor arrays for continuous monitoring of pollutants