A Fiber Optic Sensor for the Remote Detection of Trichloroethylene in Soil

A fiber optic remote sensing method for measuring the infrared reflectance from chlorinated hydrocarbons in soils is demonstrated. Minimum observable signal corresponging to 250 ppm of trichloroethylene (TCE) in sea-sand was measured with the system over a distance of 12 meters. We also report a novel analysis technique for extracting chemical contaminant information from IR spectra. Suggestions for further enhancing the sensor's threshold detection limit are offered.