A fiber optic sensor with a special layer of carbon nanotubes that can quickly determine the concentration of industrial dyes in water was developed by scientists from the National Research University MIET, Ulyanovsk State University (UlGU) and experts from the Technology Center research and production complex. . This was reported to socialbites.ca at the Ministry of Education and Science.
“Currently, litmus tests are used to monitor environmental pollution, the accuracy of which leaves much to be desired, and expensive laboratory tests with results expectation of up to several weeks. Alexander Gerasimenko, Head of the Biomedical Nanotechnology Laboratory of the MIET Biomedical Institute, said, “The technology we propose will allow remote and operational monitoring of the pollutant concentration in different parts of the reservoir in real time using several sensors. Systems told Gazeta.ru.
The novelty of the development lies, among other things, in the high sensitivity provided by the sensor with the help of a thin and durable layer of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Such a layer increases the adsorption of dye molecules to the fiber, which increases the sensitivity and accuracy of detecting a small but dangerous dose of dye. According to the developers, similar optical sensors created earlier do not have such sensitivity. In addition, it can be used repeatedly: the sensor has a high resistance and can be reused after washing with water without losing sensitivity.
In particular, with the help of this sensor, it will be possible to detect as soon as possible the presence of the dyestuff Rhodamine B, which is one of the most common pollutants in the world’s aquatic environment and is used in the textile industry. oil business. Human contact with it can cause skin dermatitis, allergic reactions, attention problems, hyperactivity and anxiety, not to mention toxic poisoning if the dye gets into the body. For the natural inhabitants of water bodies – crustaceans – the lethal concentration of 10% Rhodamine B (LC10) is only 18 mg / l.