Investigation of a Cu(II) fibre optic chemical sensor using fast sulphon black F (FSBF) immobilised onto XAD-7

A fibre optic sensor for Cu(II) based on the use of fast sulphon black F (FSBF) immobilised onto XAD-7 (methyl methacrylate copolymer) and reflectance spectrometry has been developed. A kinetic approach is used to quantify sensor response in which the rate of change of reflectance is measured over 2 min period. The response to the concentration of Cu(II) at pH 9.5 is linear in 11–127 ppm range, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 ppm. The sensor can easily be regenerated by immersion in 0.01 M ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). The optimum operating conditions and performance characteristics for the new sensor are reported.