Experimental Study of the Interaction of UHF Electromagnetic Waves with Fuel-Contaminated Water

This work presents an experimental study of the electromagnetic behavior of water and its interaction with gasoline in the frequency range of 1.9 to 2.6 GHz, corresponding to the UHF band. This interval lies within the dielectric relaxation region of water, where significant absorption and reflection phenomena occur. The results show qualitative differences in the electromagnetic responses of water, gasoline, and their mixtures, particularly in the stability of amplitudes and phase variability. The mixtures exhibit an intermediate behavior between the pure liquids, highlighting the direct influence of the dielectric properties of the medium on the reflected signal. Furthermore, it was identified that the band between 2400 and 2550 MHz presents a more predictable amplitude response, making it a promising frequency range for the non-invasive detection of gasoline as a contaminant in aquatic environments.