Then the electrochemistry comes into play when an electrical potential is applied, and an even smaller group of compounds are electrolyzed. Finally, a very specific wavelength of light is used to detect the actual compound of interest-in this case ferrocyanide. Pacific Northwest chemist Bryan assisted the UC team in testing the spectroelectrochemical sensor using actual ferrocyanide-containing waste. The results from the test on the tank waste material were nearly identical to those predicted from tests using a simulant in the university's lab. This result means that the sensor works well with actual contaminated materials.
Science is an iterative process and it helps to pool our knowledge.
Even researchers who are long retired played a part in this sensor breakthrough. Bryan and others have been involved in ferrocyanide characterization at Hanford since the 1980s. Initially, ferrocyanide was thought to pose the threat of explosion within the underground tanks, but that fear has since been relieved by the discovery that ferrocyanide completely decays within the tanks. However, because of the knowledge accumulated about this chemical, it made a good target and test for the new chemical sensor to detect within a mix of numerous other constituents. Now, we can move forward with specific applications.