A Reusable Fiber Optic Sensor for the Real-Time Sensing of CaCO3 Scale Formation in Geothermal Water

Herein, we present a novel regenerative fiber optic sensor for calcium carbonate scale formation in geothermal water. The proposed sensor was fabricated by covering an unclad multimode fiber core with a platinum mesh. This sensor can be regenerated for multiple measurements by dissolving the scale precipitated on the fiber optic surface based on the changes of pH accompanying the anodic electrolysis of water. The implementation of the proposed sensor was successfully applied to monitor the scale formation in natural geothermal water situated at Matsushiro, Japan.