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Development of an Integrated Optic Interferometer for In-Situ Monitoring of Volatile Hydrocarbons

EPA Grant Number: R825513C018
Subproject: this is subproject number 018 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R825513
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC
Center Director: D. Reible, Danny
Title: Development of an Integrated Optic Interferometer for In-Situ Monitoring of Volatile Hydrocarbons
Investigators: Walsh, J. , Hartmann, N.
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Manty, Dale
Project Period: January 1, 1992 through January 1, 1994
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (1989)
Research Category: Hazardous Substance Research Centers

Description:

Objective:

In this project a microsensor was developed and demonstrated which was suitable for monitoring BETX (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene) chemicals. Although current laboratory instrumentation is satisfactory for chemical diagnostics, these instruments are of limited value for field monitoring applications due to size, cost and speed. Monitoring pplications generally require real time in-situ measurements using sensors that are 1) economically viable, 2) suitable for long term field operations, 3) easily maintained or repaired in the field, and 4) require minimal fixed equipment for operation.

Approach:

The microsensor technology is based on an integrated optic (IO), interferometric device capable of continuously measuring an individual chemical species in the ppmv or lower range. The sensor approach relies on the detection of very small refractive index changes in a thin film on the surface of an optical waveguide. Sensitivity to benzene, toluene, and xylene have been demonstrated at concentrations in the low ppmv range. Further, the sensor technology has been shown to be capable of detecting the presence of gasoline in sedimentary soils. This technology offers the potential of monitoring several different chemical species on a single, multi-channel waveguide package only 1.5 inches in diameter and a few inches in length (including electronics). Moreover, techniques for negating many of the effects associated with a soil-water environment such as moisture changes, temperature variations, and chemical contamination have been developed and demonstrated. The sensor technology reported herein overcomes many of the disadvantages of existing techniques for measuring these substances including prohibitively high expense, excessively long measurement times, and inherently complex instrumentation that restricts field use.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 3 publications for this subproject | View all 427 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 1 journal articles for this subproject | View all 114 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

BTEX, microsensor, and detection. , Ecosystem Protection/Environmental Exposure & Risk, Water, Air, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry, air toxics, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, Contaminated Sediments, Hazardous, Monitoring/Modeling, Ecology and Ecosystems, risk assessment, hydrocarbons, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), vaporization, contaminated sediment, airborne metals, environmental monitoring, microsensor, environmental technology, air qialty model, BETX, air pollution, hazardous waste management, contaminated soil, in situ sensor, hazardous waste treatment, sediment treatment, volatile air toxics, integrated optic interferometer

Progress and Final Reports:
Final Report


Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R825513    HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R825513C001 Sediment Resuspension and Contaminant Transport in an Estuary.
R825513C002 Contaminant Transport Across Cohesive Sediment Interfaces.
R825513C003 Mobilization and Fate of Inorganic Contaminant due to Resuspension of Cohesive Sediment.
R825513C004 Source Identification, Transformation, and Transport Processes of N-, O- and S- Containing Organic Chemicals in Wetland and Upland Sediments.
R825513C005 Mobility and Transport of Radium from Sediment and Waste Pits.
R825513C006 Anaerobic Biodegradation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene and Other Nitroaromatic Compounds by Clostridium Acetobutylicum.
R825513C007 Investigation on the Fate and Biotransformation of Hexachlorobutadiene and Chlorobenzenes in a Sediment-Water Estuarine System
R825513C008 An Investigation of Chemical Transport from Contaminated Sediments through Porous Containment Structures
R825513C009 Evaluation of Placement and Effectiveness of Sediment Caps
R825513C010 Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C011 Pollutant Fluxes to Aquatic Systems via Coupled Biological and Physicochemical Bed-Sediment Processes
R825513C012 Controls on Metals Partitioning in Contaminated Sediments
R825513C013 Phytoremediation of TNT Contaminated Soil and Groundwaters
R825513C014 Sediment-Based Remediation of Hazardous Substances at a Contaminated Military Base
R825513C015 Effect of Natural Dynamic Changes on Pollutant-Sediment Interaction
R825513C016 Desorption of Nonpolar Organic Pollutants from Historically Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials
R825513C017 Modeling Air Emissions of Organic Compounds from Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Materials title change in last year to "Long-term Release of Pollutants from Contaminated Sediment Dredged Material"
R825513C018 Development of an Integrated Optic Interferometer for In-Situ Monitoring of Volatile Hydrocarbons
R825513C019 Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments and Dredged Material
R825513C020 Bioremediation of Sediments Contaminated with Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons
R825513C021 Role of Particles in Mobilizing Hazardous Chemicals in Urban Runoff
R825513C022 Particle Transport and Deposit Morphology at the Sediment/Water Interface
R825513C023 Uptake of Metal Ions from Aqueous Solutions by Sediments
R825513C024 Bioavailability of Desorption Resistant Hydrocarbons in Sediment-Water Systems.
R825513C025 Interactive Roles of Microbial and Spartina Populations in Mercury Methylation Processes in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments in Salt-Marsh Systems
R825513C026 Evaluation of Physical-Chemical Methods for Rapid Assessment of the Bioavailability of Moderately Polar Compounds in Sediments
R825513C027 Freshwater Bioturbators in Riverine Sediments as Enhancers of Contaminant Release
R825513C028 Characterization of Laguna Madre Contaminated Sediments.
R825513C029 The Role of Competitive Adsorption of Suspended Sediments in Determining Partitioning and Colloidal Stability.
R825513C030 Remediation of TNT-Contaminated Soil by Cyanobacterial Mat.
R825513C031 Experimental and Detailed Mathematical Modeling of Diffusion of Contaminants in Fluids
R825513C033 Application of Biotechnology in Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments
R825513C034 Characterization of PAH's Degrading Bacteria in Coastal Sediments
R825513C035 Dynamic Aspects of Metal Speciation in the Miami River Sediments in Relation to Particle Size Distribution of Chemical Heterogeneity

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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