Fluorescence imaging methodology for oil-in-water concentration measurements

Abstract

A Pitot-tube jet pump for separating and transporting liquids of different densities is in use for processing oil-polluted water. The remaining oil-in-water (OiW) concentration is a main indicator for the process efficiency and requires a precise measuring method. Hence, a simple approach delivering reliable oil concentrations has been developed in this project. The measurement principle relies on the image acquisition of an OiW emulsion, where the oil phase is seeded with a selective dye tracer. In this concept study, a detailed description of the preparation procedure is provided. Suitable operation parameters leading to sufficiently stable emulsions have been obtained. Finally, a calibration function was determined. It can be used to correlate uniquely the image intensity to the oil concentration.