OPTRODE DEVELOPMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PH MONITORING

IN SUPPORT OF THE NASA BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES OPERATIONS CONDUCT OF RESEARCH BOTH ON EARTH AND IN SPACE, GEO-CENTERS,INC. PROPOSES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A UNIQUE FIBER OPTIC SENSOR FOR REMOTELY MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL PH. FIBER OPTIC METHODS ALLOW CONTINUOUS REAL TIME, IN-SITU MONITORINGOF VAPORS AND ARE READILY EXTENDED TO WORK IN LIQUID MEDIA. GEO-CENTERS, INC. PROPOSES A PHASE I EFFORT TO DESIGN AND DEMONSTRATE IN THE LABORATORY, A FIBER OPTIC OPTRODE CAPABLEOF DETERMINING PH IN AN AQUATIC OR PHYSIOLOGICAL MEDIUM, AS MAY BE REQUIRED BY DEVELOPMENTAL BIOREACTORS. SPECIFICALLY,GEO-CENTERS, INC. PROPOSES THE FOLLOWING TECHNICAL TASKS: 1. CONSTRUCT AND EVALUATE POROUS GLASS FIBER OPTIC SENSORS OVER A BROAD PH RANGE (PH = 2-12). 2. OPTIMIZE SENSOR FOR SPECIFIC PH RANGE AND DETERMINE INDICATOR LIFETIME. DEVELOP METHODOLOGY FOR CHEMICAL ATTACHMENT. 3. ANALYZE RESULTS, ASSESS MULTIPLEXING METHODS AND APPLICABILITY TO SENSING OF SALINITY AND CATIONS. SUBMIT PRELIMINARY DESIGN RECOMMENDATION SUITABLE FOR PHASE II.