Design of a solvatochromic polymer‐based fiber optics chemical sensor for polar solvent detection*

An optical sensor for organic solvents with a detection limit of 10⁻² v/v‐% for methanol in mixed hydrocarbons is presented. The system, a fiber optic chemical sensor based on Reichardt's dye covalently bound to an insoluble Merrifield peptide resin (see Fig.), is shown to have a response time of ca. 1 minute magnified image.