Holographic sensor for water in solvents.

The diffraction color of a gelatin holographic diffraction grating changed as a function of the water activity when immersed in a "wet" hydrophobic liquid. Quantification of the absorption maximum of the diffracted light showed that it was related, after calibration, to either the water content or the water activity of the solvent. The holographic diffraction grating measured water contents of hydrocarbon solvents at sensitivities comparable to that of the Karl Fischer coulometric titrator and over a wide range of water contents. A grating immersed in xylene revealed a visible color change when the water content was increased from 47 to 120 ppm. Conversely, the holographic grating responded to ethanol in water in the range 0-1% (w/w). The inexpensiveness and simplicity of silver halide holographic reflection gratings, combined with their relatively high sensitivity, suggests that these devices might find widespread application as immersible water activity sensors for hydrophobic liquids.