Turbidity and RI Dependency of a Polymer Optical Fiber-Based Chromatic Sensor

Area of Science:

• Optoelectronics
• Chemical Sensing
• Material Science

Background:

• Accurate real-time liquid analysis is crucial for industrial processes.
• Existing color sensors face challenges with turbidity and refractive index variations.
• Plastic optical fiber (POF) offers a flexible and cost-effective sensing platform.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and characterize an in-line, real-time chromatic sensor for liquids using POF.
• To investigate the sensor's response to turbidity and refractive index.
• To establish a foundation for advanced auto-compensation algorithms.

Main Methods:

• Development of a fiber-to-fiber transmission sensor incorporating an air gap.
• Experimental characterization of sensor performance under varying turbidity and refractive index conditions.
• Analysis of spectral transmission data for color determination.

Main Results:

• The developed chromatic sensor operates in real-time and in-line.
• Sensor performance demonstrates predictable behavior with changes in turbidity and refractive index.
• Post-compensation strategies are feasible due to predictable sensor responses, allowing for accurate color discrimination.

Conclusions:

• A novel POF-based chromatic sensor for real-time liquid analysis has been successfully demonstrated.
• The sensor's predictable response to turbidity and refractive index is key for accurate color measurement.
• This work paves the way for robust, auto-compensated color sensing in diverse liquid applications.