Applications of remote fiber optic spectroscopy using infrared fibers and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to environmental monitoring

This manuscript summarizes the effort to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a field-portable Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) instrument that can perform a quick and accurate chemical analysis of unknown waste materials at Air Force bases without removing a sample for analysis. We report that devices containing a tapered infrared fiber optic sensor can remotely detect and quantify the range of liquid hazardous waste typically found at Air Force bases. Partial Least Squares (PLS) calibration equations were formulated and shown to accurately predict the concentration of components in a mixture with an error or +/- 0.05% volume.