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B. Lendl, C. Reidl-Leuthner, W. Ritter:
"Mid-IR quantum cascade lasers as an enabling technology for a new generation of chemical analyzers for liquids";
Proc. SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering, 7945 (2011), 794503; S. 1 - 7.

This presentation introduces a chemical analyzer (The ERACHECK) which is based on quantum cascade laser
technology for measuring oil-in-water. Using these mid-IR lasers, it was possible to develop a portable, robust and
highly precise analyzer for the measurement of oil-in-water, a parameter which is vital in the petrochemical industry for
process control and environmental analysis. The overall method employs a liquid-liquid extraction step of the aqueous
sample using a cyclic, aliphatic hydrocarbon such as cyclohexane. Quantification is based on measurement of the C-H
deformation vibrations of the extracted hydrocarbons in the cyclic extraction solvent. The developed method is linear
from 0.5 - 2000 ppm of oil in water, with precisions well below 15% in terms of r.s.d for repeated measurements. The
portability of the ERACHECK and its robustness has been key for its successful use on oil rigs as well as petrochemical
production sites on land. The values provided by the ERACHECK correlate well with those obtained by the former CFC
(Freon 113) based method for oil in water, which is no longer in use in industrialized countries due to the ozone
depleting effect of the CFCs employed.

This presentation introduces a chemical analyzer (The ERACHECK) which is based on quantum cascade laser
technology for measuring oil-in-water. Using these mid-IR lasers, it was possible to develop a portable, robust and
highly precise analyzer for the measurement of oil-in-water, a parameter which is vital in the petrochemical industry for
process control and environmental analysis. The overall method employs a liquid-liquid extraction step of the aqueous
sample using a cyclic, aliphatic hydrocarbon such as cyclohexane. Quantification is based on measurement of the C-H
deformation vibrations of the extracted hydrocarbons in the cyclic extraction solvent. The developed method is linear
from 0.5 - 2000 ppm of oil in water, with precisions well below 15% in terms of r.s.d for repeated measurements. The
portability of the ERACHECK and its robustness has been key for its successful use on oil rigs as well as petrochemical
production sites on land. The values provided by the ERACHECK correlate well with those obtained by the former CFC
(Freon 113) based method for oil in water, which is no longer in use in industrialized countries due to the ozone
depleting effect of the CFCs employed.

Oil in water, quantum cascade lasers, mid-IR spectroscopy, analysis of liquids

http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.871397