Abstract
An home-made EFA (evanescent field absorbance)-sensor has been tested for the determination of hydrocarbons in water. The investigations have been performed both with crude oil emulsions and petrol solutions. Cuvette and evanescent wave spectra of crude oil and petrol in the near-infrared region are presented and discussed. The concentration of aromatic compounds in crude oil can be determined semiquantitatively by the standard addition method. The sorption behaviour of the hydrocarbons in the cladding of the fiberoptic sensor has been investigated and a correlation between the sensor signal and the concentration of the aqueous hydrocarbon emulsion/solution could be shown. The desorption of the enriched molecules after the measurements is also presented. The petrol molecules evaporate in ambient air so that the sensor is easily regenerated. In case of oil measurements the hydrocarbon molecules cannot be removed by rinsing the sensor with clear water or by evaporating them in ambient air. It has to be regenerated by washing it with a high volatile solvent instead.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sensfelder, E., Bürck, J. & Ache, H.J. Determination of hydrocarbons in water by evanescent wave absorption spectroscopy in the near-infrared region. Fresenius J Anal Chem 354, 848–851 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s0021663540848
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s0021663540848