McGill.CA / Science / Department of Physics

CPM Seminar

Extraordinary CPM seminar

Microcantilever Sensors for Liquid Hydrocarbons

Alan Schilowitz

ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Co.

Microcantilever (MC) sensors have been developed to a large extent for medical and national security applications. Ultrahigh sensitivity has been demonstrated for explosives, environmental contaminants, bacteria, etc. Consequently, research in microcantilevers has focused on aqueous liquid systems or gas phase systems.

In this presentation, an overview of MC sensor applications in the petroleum industry will be given. Application of MC sensors to liquid hydrocarbons, which present interesting challenges, will be highlighted. Detection of carboxylic acids in hydrocarbon solvents is one relevant application which will be discussed in some detail.

Friday, November 4th 2005, 11:00
Ernest Rutherford Physics Building, R.E. Bell Conference Room (room 103)