Optrode for sensing hydrocarbons

Patent · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866719

Miller, Holly ^[1]; Milanovich, Fred P ^[2]; Hirschfeld, Tomas B ^[3]; Miller, Fred S ^[1]

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1. Bethel Island, CA
2. Lafayette, CA
3. Livermore, CA

A two-phase system employing the Fujiwara reaction is provided for the fluorometric detection of halogenated hydrocarbons. A fiber optic is utilized to illuminate a column of pyridine trapped in a capillary tube coaxially attached at one end to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A strongly alkaline condition necessary for the reaction is maintained by providing a reservoir of alkali in contact with the column of pyridine, the surface of contact being adjacent to the illuminating end of the fiber optic. A semipermeable membrane caps the other end of the capillary tube, the membrane being preferentially permeable to the halogenated hydrocarbon and but preferentially impermeable to water and pyridine. As the halogenated hydrocarbon diffuses through the membrane and into the column of pyridine, fluorescent reaction products are formed. Light propagated by the fiber optic from a light source, excites the fluorescent products. Light from the fluorescence emission is also collected by the same fiber optic and transmitted to a detector. The intensity of the fluorescence gives a measure of the concentration of the halogenated hydrocarbons.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: Regents of University of California (Berkeley, CA)
• Patent Number(s): US 4771006
• OSTI ID: 866719
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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adjacent
alkali
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coaxially
coaxially attached
collected
column
concentration
condition
contact
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diffuses
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membrane
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optrode
permeable
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preferentially
products
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pyridine
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sensing
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