A Highly Sensitive Remote Sensor System For the Detection of Oil In Water

Apollo Enterprise proposes to develop a highly sensitive, remotely deployable sensor system for hydrocarbon detection in waste water. The novel device is designed to monitor the hydrocarbons in waste water in real time and will serve as a tool to minimize the release of contaminated water into local waste-water systems. Current monitoring is performed by visual inspection based on the presence of an oil sheen. Such inspection can not be satisfied continuously and the location of inspection may not necessarily be the point of release. The proposed remote sensor system has a unique structure that is inexpensive, sensitive, reliable, usable in diverse environments, and universal for the detection of various oils. The data collected by the sensor can be sent to an operation center. Warning signals will also be sent if an oil sheen in waste water is detected. The proposed system can also be modified for quantitative monitoring of oil in water. The proposed remotely deployable sensor will be sensitive and reliable. It can be used for detecting oil in waste water from testing facilities, processing plants, refineries, aviation facilities, fuel storage facilities, and any location where oil contamination in water needs to be monitored. The technology needed to build these devices has already been established under programs at Apollo Enterprise directed toward optical instruments for thin film measurements. Apollo Enterprise proposes to use this technology to develop a highly sensitive remote sensor system that will be an effective tool in environmental monitoring and protection. The development of the sensor system will also be economically advantageous because it can provide early warning of contamination to avoid a costly clean-up process.