Chemical Sensors Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance in a Plastic Optical Fiber for Multianalyte Detection in Oil-Filled Power Transformer

The combination of a D-shaped plastic optical fiber (POF) and a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) receptor is an effective way to obtain a highly selective and sensitive surface plasmon resonance (SPR) optical platform, especially suitable for the detection of chemical marker in the oil of Power Transformers. In this work Authors present the preliminary results for determination of two important analytes, dibenzyl disulfide (DBDS) and furfural (2-FAL), whose presence in the transformer oil is an indication of underway corrosive or ageing process, respectively, in power transformers. The low cost of the POF-MIP platforms and the simple and modular scheme of the optical interrogation layout make this system a potentially suitable on-line diagnostic tool for power transformers.