Luminescence based fiber optic probe for the detection of rare earth elements

1. An apparatus for detection of rare earth elements comprising:

A light source providing one or more luminescent signals;

a shortpass filter that reduces low energy emissions from the light source, the shortpass filter in optical communication with at least the light source;

a fiber bifurcated cable in optical communication with at least the shortpass filter and a sample, the fiber bifurcated cable providing and receiving one or more luminescent signals;

a probe tip in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable and the sample, the probe tip functionalized with a coating that enhances a detection limit for rare earth elements;

a longpass filter in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable receiving the one or more luminescent signals; and

a longpass filter is in optical communication with a spectrometer which analyzes the one or more luminescent signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 the light source is an LED light source having a wavelength of about 400 nm or shorter.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the LED light source has a wavelength of about 365 nm and an output between about 1.15 W and about 1.4 W.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a focusing lens in optical communication with the light source and the shortpass filter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shortpass filter comprises a shortpass filter that permits at least 95% of the signal intensity from the light source.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the shortpass filter comprises a 390 nm shortpass filter.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a first aspheric lens in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable and the longpass filter and a second apheric lens in optical communication with the longpass filter and the spectrometer.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the longpass filter comprises a 458 nm longpass filter or smaller wavelength eliminating low-energy signals from the light source to near zero.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sensitizer added to a solution phase to enhance a detection limit of rare earth elements.

10. An apparatus for detection of rare earth elements comprising:

an LED light source connected to a power source providing UV light;

a shortpass filter in optical communication with the LED light source, the shortpass filter reducing low energy emissions from the LED light source;

a fiber bifurcated cable in optical communication with the shortpass filter;

a probe tip in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable and a sample, where the probe tip is functionalized with a coating that enhances the detection limit for rare earth elements which could be comprised of an immobilized sensitizer in a silica-based sol-gel, a sorbent materials for rare earth ions, plasmonic nanoparticles, or another type of functional layer;

a first aspheric lens in optical communication with at least the fiber bifurcated cable;

a longpass filter in optical communication with the first aspheric lens;

a second aspheric lens in optical communication with the longpass filter; and

a second aspheric lens in optical communication with a spectrometer which analyzes the one or more luminescent signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the LED light source has a wavelength of about 365 nm and an output between about 1.15 W and about 1.4 W.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a focusing lens in optical communication with the light source and the shortpass filter.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the shortpass filter comprises a shortpass filter that permits at least 95% of the signal intensity from the light source.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the shortpass filter comprises a 390 nm shortpass filter.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the longpass filter comprises a 458 nm longpass filter or smaller wavelength eliminating low-energy signals from the light source to near zero.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a sensitizer added to a solution phase to enhance a detection limit of rare earth elements.

17. An apparatus for detection of rare earth elements comprising:

a light source providing one or more luminescent signals;

a shortpass filter that reduces low energy emissions from the light source, the shortpass filter in optical communication with at least the light source;

a fiber bifurcated cable in optical communication with at least the shortpass filter and a sample, the fiber bifurcated cable providing and receiving one or more luminescent signals;

a probe tip in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable and the sample, the probe tip functionalized with a coating that enhances a detection limit for rare earth elements, wherein the coating is selected from the group comprising an immobilized sensitizer, a silica-based sol-gel, a sorbent material for rare earth ions, plasmonic nanoparticles, or another type of functional layer;

a longpass filter in optical communication with the fiber bifurcated cable receiving the one or more luminescent signals; and

a longpass filter is in optical communication with a spectrometer which analyzes the one or more luminescent signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the light source is an LED light source having a wavelength of about 365 nm and an output between about 1.15 W and about 1.4 W.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a focusing lens in optical communication with the light source and the shortpass filter.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the shortpass filter comprises a 390 nm shortpass filter.