Flexible microwave sensors for real-time analysis of water contaminants

This paper reports on the development of novel microwave sensors for water contaminant analysis in real time. In particular, changes in the microwave part of the electromagnetic spectrum are used as an indicator of water quality. The sensing element was designed on a flexible substrate in order that it is less prone to failure due to mechanical damage, thus providing longevity. This also allows for a broad range of applications where a sensor, or sensors, could be placed in water reservoirs or water pipes. The sensing element consists of silver metal patterns which form interdigitated electrodes (IDE) in various configurations on polyimide flexible laminate substrates. The effect of IDE sensor configuration on the sensitivity of reflected signals represented by S11 parameters was studied. The developed system confirmed the viability of using microwaves for real-time water quality monitoring as the corresponding spectra for air, deionised water and tap water were unique with clearly observed shifts in the resonant frequencies of the sensors when placed in direct contact with various water samples.

[2]  Alex Mason,et al.  Hepa Filter Material Load Detection Using a Microwave Cavity Sensor , 2010 .

[3]  B. Kapilevich,et al.  Microwave sensor for accurate measurements of water solution concentrations , 2007, 2007 Asia-Pacific Microwave Conference.

[4]  Dominique Rebière,et al.  Microwave sensors: a new sensing principle. Application to humidity detection , 2000 .

[5]  F. Volgyi.  Microstrip Transmission- and Reflection-Type Sensors Used in Microwave Aquametry , 2005 .

[6]  Other.  Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of The Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a Framework for Community Action in the Field of Water Policy (Water Framework Directive) , 2000 .

[7]  Mohd Amri Md Yunus,et al.  Novel Planar Electromagnetic Sensors for Detection of Nitrates and Contamination in Natural Water Sources , 2011, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[8]  Dermot Diamond,et al.  Autonomous field-deployable device for the measurement of phosphate in natural water , 2007, SPIE Optics East.

[9]  D. A. Boyarskii,et al.  Model of Dielectric Constant of Bound Water in Soil for Applications of Microwave Remote Sensing - Abstract , 2002 .

[10]  Heinrich Theodor Vierhaus,et al.  Continuous process monitoring for biogas plants using microwave sensors , 2010, 2010 12th Biennial Baltic Electronics Conference.

[11]  D. Lapworth,et al.  Review of risk from potential emerging contaminants in UK groundwater. , 2012, The Science of the total environment.

[12]  A. Panagopoulos,et al.  Millimeter Wave Pulse Propagation through Distorted Raindrops for LOs Fixed Wireless Access Channels , 2006 .

[13]  J. Boon,et al.  Acoustic-microwave water level sensor comparisons in an estuarine environment , 2008, OCEANS 2008.

[14]  R. Schwarzenbach,et al.  The Challenge of Micropollutants in Aquatic Systems , 2006, Science.

[15]  Alex Mason,et al.  Monitoring Pollutants in Wastewater: Traditional Lab Based versus Modern Real-Time Approaches , 2013 .

[16]  Yahia M. M. Antar,et al.  Microstrip and printed antennas : new trends, techniques, and applications , 2010 .

[17]  Richard M. Stuetz,et al.  On‐line monitoring of wastewater quality: a review , 2001 .

[18]  O. Korostynska,et al.  Microwave Sensors for Real-Time Nutrients Detection in Water , 2013 .

[19]  Alex Mason,et al.  Monitoring of Nitrates and Phosphates in Wastewater: Current Technologies and Further Challenges , 2012 .

[20]  D. Barceló,et al.  Advantages and limitations of on-line solid phase extraction coupled to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technologies versus biosensors for monitoring of emerging contaminants in water. , 2007, Journal of chromatography. A.

[21]  Udo Kaatze,et al.  Electromagnetic Wave Interactions with Water and Aqueous Solutions , 2005 .

[22]  R. Rosen.  Mass spectrometry for monitoring micropollutants in water. , 2007, Current opinion in biotechnology.

[23]  Beulah Jackson,et al.  A novel method for water impurity concentration using microstrip resonator sensor , 2010, Recent Advances in Space Technology Services and Climate Change 2010 (RSTS & CC-2010).

[24]  D. Kajfez.  Temperature characterization of dielectric-resonator materials , 2001 .

[25]  Khalil Arshak,et al.  Advanced materials and techniques for radiation dosimetry , 2013 .

[26]  Zulkifly Abbas,et al.  A rectangular patch antenna technique for the determination of moisture content in soil , 2010 .

[27]  Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Linearly Dispersive Media Using Higher-Order Weno Scheme , 2009 .

[28]  O. Korostynska,et al.  Glucose monitoring using electromagnetic waves and microsensor with interdigitated electrodes , 2009, 2009 IEEE Sensors Applications Symposium.

[29]  Kama Huang,et al.  A Radio Frequency Sensor For Measurement Of Small Dielectric Property Changes , 2012 .

[30]  D. A. Boyarskii,et al.  Model of Dielectric Constant of Bound Water in Soil for Applications of Microwave Remote Sensing , 2002 .

[31]  R. Bansal,et al.  Antenna theory; analysis and design , 1984, Proceedings of the IEEE.

[33]  Z. Q. Zhao,et al.  Real Time Monitoring of Surface Water Pollution using Microwave System , 2008 .