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Detection of Contaminants in Water

Summary

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a novel technique for the fabrication of Plastic Optical Fiber (POF) sensors that are ideal for monitoring water delivery systems. POF sensors are more flexible and stronger mechanically than GOF sensors, and POF sensors are a more suitable choice for applications that require the use of long optical fibers, such as monitoring ammonia in the artificial water delivery systems. This fabrication technique is inexpensive, reliable, sensitive, and reversible.

Technology Benefits

Good reversibilityCompact, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive Immune to electromagnetic interference

Technology Application

Ammonia monitoring in artificial water delivery systems

Detailed Technology Description

George NnannaPurdue Calumet Water InstitutePurdue Mechanical Engineering

Countries

United States

Application No.

8,735,165

*Abstract

*Background

Ammonia at elevated concentrations is poisonous to different organisms. For examples, 22.8 ppm can be lethal to water organisms and exposure to ammonia as low as 35 ppm for over 15 minutes can be dangerous to humans. Therefore, a continuous, online ammonia monitoring system is highly desired, especially for dynamic aqueous water delivery systems. Various electrochemical, catalytic, and optical fiber sensors have attracted substantial attention for the monitoring of ammonia in gaseous phase given they provide an easy and fast means of continuous detection. The majority of the fiber optic ammonia sensor research efforts have been focused on the employment of Glass Optical Fiber (GOF) sensors, which primarily focuses on the detection of ammonia in the gaseous phase such as in air.

*IP Issue Date

May 27, 2014

*IP Type

Utility

*Stage of Development

Prototype Testing

*Web Links

Purdue Office of Technology CommercializationPurdueInnovation and EntrepreneurshipGeorge NnannaPurdue Calumet Water InstitutePurdue Mechanical Engineering

Country/Region

USA