Fibre Optic Method for Detecting Oil Fluorescence in Marine Sediments

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Oil contamination in marine and freshwater sediments poses environmental risks.
• Accurate and timely detection of oil in sediments is crucial for effective remediation.
• Current detection methods may be limited in their ability to provide in situ measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the feasibility of using a fiber optic system for detecting oil in bottom sediments.
• To assess the effectiveness of analyzing excitation-emission spectra for oil identification.
• To determine if the developed system can provide in situ measurements of oil contamination.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a factory spectrofluorometer integrated with an experimental fiber optic measurement system.
• Acquired excitation-emission spectra from sediment samples, both contaminated and uncontaminated.
• Positioned the fiber optic probe at a 45° angle above the sediment surface for spectral acquisition.

Main Results:

• Observed distinct variations in fluorescence spectra shapes correlated with oil contamination.
• Demonstrated that spectral shape variability depends on the type and degree of oil contamination.
• Confirmed the transmission of excitation and emission light through a combined fiber optic bundle.

Conclusions:

• The developed fiber optic sensor system shows promise for detecting oil in sediments.
• Excitation-emission spectral analysis is a viable method for identifying oil presence and characteristics.
• The system's design supports in situ monitoring of oil contamination in bottom sediments.