Mid-IR quantum cascade lasers as an enabling technology for a new generation of chemical analyzers for liquids

Abstract

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.