A FIBER OPTIC SENSOR FOR MOISTURE IN PROCESS STREAMS

THE AIM OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF AN INSTRUMENT FOR IN-SITU MONITORING OF WATER IN LIQUID NONAQUEOUS SYSTEMS. THE METHOD WILL USE ADVANCED SURFACE MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES, FIBER OPTIC PROBES AND MICROCOMPUTING TOOLS. THE METHOD WILL ADD CHEMICAL SPECIFICITY TO A PHYSICAL MEASUREMENT WHILE STILL PROVIDING FOR CONTINUOUS MONITORING AND CONTROL. FIBER OPTIC METHODS OFFER AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY TO PERFORM IN-SITU MEASUREMENTS. THIS WORK ATTEMPTS TO ADAPT KNOWN CHEMICAL REACTIONS TO FIBER OPTICS THROUGH SURFACE MODIFICATION METHODS. AS THE OUTPUT OF THE SENSOR MAY WELL BE NONLINEAR,MICROCOMPUTING EXPERIENCE WILL BE ADAPTED TO TREATMENT OF THE MOISTURE DATA. THE MAIN CHEMICAL SYSTEM TO BE TESTED IN THIS PROGRAM WILL BE BASED ON COBALTOUS ION INTERACTIONS WITH WATER. A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF SOLVATOCHROMIC DYES FOR THE REAGENT PHASE WILL ALSO BE DONE.