Laser-Induced Fluorescence Over Optical Fibers for Real Time In situ Measurement of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Seawater.

摘要

A fiber optic-based fluorometer system is described that uses a pulsed laser to induce fluorescence and a time-gated linear photodiode array coupled to a spectrograph for rapid measurement of fluorescence emission spectra and fluorescence decay times. Data is presented from studies conducted in San Diego Bay where the system has been used for real-time in situ measurements of temporal and spatial variability of petroleum hydrocarbons in seawater. Results show that the optical fiber fluorometer system is capable of direct quantification of low level (parts-per-billion diesel fuel marine equivalent) concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons. Analysis times for measurement of complete fluorescence emission spectra are fast (tens of milli-seconds) and compare with the temporal response characteristics for temperature and conductivity sensors that are used for measuring standard physical hydrographic parameters. Results obtained with the fiber optic fluorometer system during a mapping study in San Diego Bay show good correlation with GC-MS analysis of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured on discrete samples collected during the study.