Research in this project is being conducted to develop acompact, rugged, on-line, multiple input, fiber optic-based Ramanprocess monitoring and control sensor capable of operating in harshindustrial environments. Charge-coupled device arraydetector-based Raman spectroscopy, employing laser diodes andoptical fiber probes, capable of sensitivities comparable to orbetter than the Fourier transform Raman method, has already beendemonstrated. This new multiple input on-line sensor can probablybe implemented in a sealed, compact, and rugged instrument havingno moving parts. The instrument being studied in Phase I is basedon an existing 100 mm f/2 imaging spectrograph design that, becauseof its high throughput and imaging capability, is capable ofsimultaneously monitoring and controlling a number of inputspectral channels. The instrument has a high signal-to-noiseratio, which promises to make the method a true trace detectiontechnique. Theoretical arguments supported by experimental resultsshow that it is reasonable to anticipate a compact, rugged (evenportable), multiple input Raman system capable of convenient andrapid multipoint detection and quantification of analytes inprocess environments.Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee:Commercial applications of a compact, rugged,multipoint, fiber optic-based Raman process monitoring and controlsystem capable of withstanding the extremely hostile environmentsoften found in industrial scenarios will be widespread. A portableinstrument of this type should also be very popular in field and/orenvironmental applications.
