A Broadband Mid-Infrared Trace Gas Sensor Using Supercontinuum Light Source: Applications for Real-Time Quality Control for Fruit Storage

Khalil Eslami Jahromi; Qing Pan; Amir Khodabakhsh; Cor Sikkens; Paul Assman; Simona  M. Cristescu; Peter  M. Moselund; Maxime Janssens; Bert  E. Verlinden; Frans  J. M. Harren

doi:10.3390/s19102334

Sensors (May 2019)

A Broadband Mid-Infrared Trace Gas Sensor Using Supercontinuum Light Source: Applications for Real-Time Quality Control for Fruit Storage

Khalil Eslami Jahromi,
Qing Pan,
Amir Khodabakhsh,
Cor Sikkens,
Paul Assman,
Simona M. Cristescu,
Peter M. Moselund,
Maxime Janssens,
Bert E. Verlinden,
Frans J. M. Harren

Affiliations

Khalil Eslami Jahromi: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Qing Pan: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Amir Khodabakhsh: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Cor Sikkens: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Paul Assman: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Simona M. Cristescu: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Peter M. Moselund: NKT Photonics A/S, Blokken 84, DK-3460 Birkeroed, Denmark
Maxime Janssens: Flanders Center of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Bert E. Verlinden: Flanders Center of Postharvest Technology, Willem de Croylaan 42, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Frans J. M. Harren: Trace Gas Research Group, Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/s19102334
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 19, no. 10
p. 2334

Abstract

Read online

We present a fully integrated and transportable multi-species trace gas sensor based on a mid-infrared (MIR) supercontinuum light source. The high brightness (surpassing synchrotron) and ultra-broad spectral bandwidth (2−4 μm) of this light source allows simultaneous detection of multiple broadband absorbing gas species. High sensitivity in the sub-ppmv level has been achieved by utilizing an astigmatic multipass cell. A grating-based spectrometer at a scanning rate of 20 Hz is developed employing a balanced detection scheme. A multi-component global fitting algorithm is implemented into a central LabVIEW program to perform real-time data analysis. The obtained concentration values are validated by the standard gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Field application of the sensor for quality control of stored fruits at a small scale is demonstrated, involving the detection of ethylene, ethanol, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, methanol, acetone, and water simultaneously. The sensor also shows promising potentials for other applications, such as environmental monitoring and biomedical research.

Published in Sensors

ISSN: 1424-8220 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords