Optical-fiber sensor for determining water content in organic solvents

An optical chemical sensor for determining water content in organic solvents has been developed based on a fluorescent dye, 10-allyl-acridine orange, which is covalently bound to supporting matrix. After chemical modification of the glass slide surface with olefin units, the fluorescent dye is copolymerized with olefin units in the presence of a hydrophilic monomer, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and a dye-incorporating optode membranes tightly immobilized on the glass surface is thus obtained. The optode membrane was used for the measurement of water content in organic solvents. Being resistant to swelling, the membrane possesses relatively long lifetime and short response and recovering time. The reversibility and reproducibility of the sensor are adequate for practical measurements.