Optical chemical sensors for industrial applications

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to describe the techniques used in industrial optical chemical sensors and to consider future prospects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper discusses the techniques and technologies used in today's optical chemical sensors. It highlights their limitations and considers briefly certain new technological developments.

Findings

This paper shows that techniques such as wet reagent‐aided photometry, UV absorption, spectroscopy and UV fluorescence satisfy a range of industrial chemical sensing applications and that optode technology is making limited commercial inroads. It identifies the need for inexpensive, wet reagent‐free chemical sensors and suggests that both solid‐state electrodes and lab‐on‐a‐chip devices may ultimately resolve this issue.

Originality/value

This paper provides a technical insight into the state of optical chemical sensing and illustrates that generic families of inexpensive chemical sensors are yet to be developed.

Citation

Bogue, R. (2007), "Optical chemical sensors for industrial applications", Sensor Review, Vol. 27 No. 2, pp. 86-90. https://doi.org/10.1108/02602280710731632