Ultra-Low Detection of Perfluorooctanoic Acid Using a Novel Plasmonic Sensing Approach Combined with Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

In this work, a novel optical fiber sensor system for ultra-low perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detection in aqueous solutions is proposed. It based on the connection, series, of two different plastic (POF) platforms: first chemical chip realized by using D-shaped POF with microholes filled specific molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP); second typical surface plasmon resonance (SPR) POF. particular, MIP-based was used to launch light inside SPR–POF change SPR phenomenon exploiting PFOA–MIP interaction microholes. At first, experimental results were performed water demonstrate applicability proposed sensing approach measuring PFOA (or C8) concentration range 1 ppt 750 ppt, obtaining an limit (LOD) equal about 0.81 ppt. Then, carried out simulated seawater implement complex matrix. The obtained denoted slight matrix effect, paving way mechanism several solutions.