Detection of the Crystallization Process of Paracetamol with a Multi-Mode Optical Fiber in a Reflective Configuration

Liliana Soares; Susana Novais; António Ferreira; Orlando Frazão; Susana Silva

doi:10.3390/s20010087

Detection of the Crystallization Process of Paracetamol with a Multi-Mode Optical Fiber in a Reflective Configuration

Sensors (Basel). 2019 Dec 22;20(1):87. doi: 10.3390/s20010087.

Authors

Liliana Soares^{1

2}, Susana Novais¹, António Ferreira³, Orlando Frazão^{1

4}, Susana Silva¹

Affiliations

¹ INESC TEC-Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
² Faculty of Biotechnology of Catholic University of Portugal, Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal.
³ LEPABE-Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
⁴ Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Sciences of University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.

Abstract

A configuration of a refractometer sensor is described with the aim of optically detecting the crystallization process of paracetamol. The developed sensing head is based on a conventional cleaved multi-mode fiber. The fiber tip sensor structure was submitted to contact with the liquid of interest (paracetamol fully dissolved in 40% v/v of ethanol/water) and the crystallization process of paracetamol, induced with continued exposure to air, was monitored in real time.

Keywords: crystallization; multi-mode optical fiber; paracetamol.

MeSH terms

Acetaminophen / chemistry*
Crystallization*
Ethanol / chemistry
Optical Fibers*
Refractometry / methods*
Water / chemistry

Substances

Water
Acetaminophen
Ethanol