Development of a cone penetrometer deployed solvent sensor using a SERS fiber optic probe

The results of development and testing of a fiber optic, cone penetrometer probe using conventional Raman spectroscopy to detect subsurface solvent contamination are discussed. Background fluorescence, soil matrix effects, and the inherent insensitivity of the Raman technique made detection of solvent contamination difficult. To overcome these problems, we have begun investigating the use of coated substrates for surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).