Fibre optic sensor to detect heavy metal pollutants in water environments.
Date
2017-06-19Author
Bhavsar, Kaushalkumar
Hurston, Emma
Prabhu, Radhakrishna
Joseph, Ginson P.
Metadata
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BHAVSAR, K., HURSTON, E., PRABHU, R. and JOSEPH, G.P. 2017. Fibre optic sensor to detect heavy metal pollutants in water environments. In Proceedings of the 60th MTS/IEEE OCEANS conference (OCEANS'17): a vision for sustaining our marine futures, 19-22 June 2017, Aberdeen, UK. New York: IEEE [online], article ID 8084982. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1109/OCEANSE.2017.8084982
Abstract
Heavy metal ion pollution emerges as a potential threat to humankind and the ecosystem due to their increased spreading into the environment. Detection of highly toxic heavy metal ions requires rapid, simple, sensitive and selective detection methods in water environments. Optical fibre sensors facilitate the remote, continuous and in-situ detection due to their inherent properties. Herein, we report a fibre optic sensor based on evanescent wave absorption to detect heavy metal ions in water environments. Fibre optic sensor has been developed by coating dithizone on the surface of an optical fibre. Selectivity of the mercury, copper and chromium ions using dithizone has been illustrated using spectroscopy based detection approach. Effect of pH on the sensor has been investigated. The possibility of simultaneous multi-ion detection has been investigated. Copper ions concentrations in water has been detected using the developed fibre optic sensor.