Ocean Optics has introduced Neofox Sport, a portable, handheld optical oxygen sensor for measuring dissolved and gaseous oxygen pressure in a variety of media.
The sensor uses a proprietary sol-gel coating that is embedded with an oxygen indicator and can be applied to patches or probes.
Patches are useful for measuring headspace gases and other parameters inside packages and containers; probe options range from slender 300um-diameter fibre assemblies for fine spatial resolution applications to strong 1/4in OD stainless-steel configurations for process environments.
Coating formulations are available for general laboratory use, high-sensitivity applications and hydrocarbon-rich sample environments.
Comprised of a probe- or patch-based oxygen sensor and a phase fluorometer, the Neofox Sport fluorescence-based optical oxygen system includes an onboard microprocessor with a low-power OLED display, a user interface and a battery pack.
The user interface permits a variety of functions, such as setting single- or multi-point calibration and displaying oxygen readings in percentage-oxygen, partial-pressure, moles-per-litre and other parameters.
Data is captured and stored to a 2Gb SD card for retrieval on the Neofox Sport itself or via an SD card reader connected to a PC.
Response times range from less than 1.0 seconds in gas to ~30 seconds in liquids, with a dissolved oxygen range (oxygen percentage at 1 Atmosphere) of zero to 100 per cent for most applications.
Neofox Sport sensors combine advances in materials sciences and phase fluorometry.
A fluorescence-based transducer material is trapped in a sol-gel coating that is applied to the probe or patch.
When the material or the indicator changes optical properties in response to specific analytes in its immediate environment, the Neofox Sport instrument measures the response.
Unlike polarographic and galvanic oxygen meters, the Neofox Sport optical oxygen sensor is immune to environmental changes in pH, salinity and ionic strength.
Other advantages of optical oxygen sensors include the fact that there is no sample consumption, no need for frequent calibration and no interference from electromagnetic interference.
Optional add-on accessories for Neofox Sport include a battery-life extender for up to 25 hours of continuous operation and a field-friendly carrying pack with a shoulder strap.
OEM options are also available.