Articles
Fruit quality control by mid-infrared multi-species trace gas sensing
Article number
1386_44
Pages
323 – 330
Language
English
Abstract
The storage of fruits in a dynamic controlled atmosphere (DCA) is a promising technology to maintain fruit postharvest quality.
The atmosphere of the storage rooms is adjusted based on the stress indicators of the fruits in comparison to a fixed oxygen level.
To monitor reliably the physiological and pathological status of the stored fruits, it is beneficial to measure continuously the fruit-produced volatiles in the storage atmosphere, in addition to the traditionally adopted stress signals, such as the respiratory quotient and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Therefore, it is vital to realize a gas sensor capable of detecting multiple volatile markers at sub-part-per-million concentrations for various processes such as ripening, fermentation and spoilage, thereby preventing unwanted degradation processes during storage.
In this study, we present the principles and development of a trace gas sensor featuring a mid-infrared supercontinuum source covering a broad wavelength range.
This innovative sensing technology allows simultaneous detection of multiple gas species in real-time, including ethylene, ethanol, ethyl- acetate, acetaldehyde, methanol, acetone, ethane, and methane.
We have evaluated the performance of the sensor by measuring volatile species produced by fruit stored in conditions resembling commercial storage rooms.
Specifically, we observed a high degree of correlation between the emitted volatile compounds from the fruit and the oxygen level during storage.
The outcomes demonstrated a promising potential for direct application at a commercial scale.
The atmosphere of the storage rooms is adjusted based on the stress indicators of the fruits in comparison to a fixed oxygen level.
To monitor reliably the physiological and pathological status of the stored fruits, it is beneficial to measure continuously the fruit-produced volatiles in the storage atmosphere, in addition to the traditionally adopted stress signals, such as the respiratory quotient and chlorophyll fluorescence.
Therefore, it is vital to realize a gas sensor capable of detecting multiple volatile markers at sub-part-per-million concentrations for various processes such as ripening, fermentation and spoilage, thereby preventing unwanted degradation processes during storage.
In this study, we present the principles and development of a trace gas sensor featuring a mid-infrared supercontinuum source covering a broad wavelength range.
This innovative sensing technology allows simultaneous detection of multiple gas species in real-time, including ethylene, ethanol, ethyl- acetate, acetaldehyde, methanol, acetone, ethane, and methane.
We have evaluated the performance of the sensor by measuring volatile species produced by fruit stored in conditions resembling commercial storage rooms.
Specifically, we observed a high degree of correlation between the emitted volatile compounds from the fruit and the oxygen level during storage.
The outcomes demonstrated a promising potential for direct application at a commercial scale.
Authors
K. Eslami Jahromi, A. Khodabakhsh, F.J.M. Harren, E. Rokx, J. Nodop-Kruse, D. Köpcke, M. Nematollahi
Keywords
fruit storage, dynamic controlled atmosphere, gas sensing, multi-species detection, absorption spectroscopy, supercontinuum laser
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