Das Projekt "Onlineueberwachung organischer Arten in Wasserumgebungen durch Einsatz von Infrarot-Glasfasern" wird vom Umweltbundesamt gefördert und von Ceramoptec durchgeführt. Newly developed mid infra-red optical fibres which transmit in the wavelength interval 2-16 mm will be used. Established commercial instrumentation involving. Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FITR) and wavelength tunable laser sources will be applied in conjunction with the fibres in order to establish a core technology capable of detection at trace levels. The primary feature of this programme will be to bring on-line a powerful chemical sensing technique that is sensitive and selective to a range of chemical species (ie multi-component) in an environment (ie aqueous) that has proved hitherto difficult due to technology limitations. A successful attainment of the objectives will establish a core technology capable of subsequent development into cost-effective commercial instrumentation. It is expected to obtain an on-line continuous monitoring capability which in turn will provide real-time information concerning the presence of hazardous chemical species in the aqueous environment. Two parallel approaches will be adopted: a) a direct approach, ie in-situ, b) an indirect approach, ie vapour phase. In both developments, mid infra-red fibres will be applied as sensors and will also enable remote operation of the analytical instrumentation. The range of chemical species to which this technology is to be considered will include organohalides, eg 1,2 dichloroethane, chlorinated ethylenes, pentachlorinated phenols and hexachlorocyclohexane. In addition, pesticides, aromatic solvents, and volatile hydrocarbons are further species that could be potentially monitored by this approach.