In-Situ Chemiresistor Sensor Package for Real-Time Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil and Groundwater

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a real-time microsensor-based monitoring system that can be used to detect and characterize volatile organic compounds in soil and groundwater. The system employs an array of polymer-based microsensors (chemiresistors) packaged in a waterproof housing that is designed to protect the sensor from harsh subsurface environments, including completely water-saturated conditions. The sensors and packaging have been tested in field and laboratory environments, and characterization methods are being developed that utilize contaminant-transport models and time-dependent, in-situ sensor data to identify the location of the contaminant source.

Keywords

• In-situ
• hydrocarbon
• real-time
• polymer
• contaminant