TY - JOUR A1 - Shabir Mahr, Muhammad A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Stephan, Ina A1 - Militz, H. T1 - Decay protection of wood against brown-rot fungi by titanium alkoxide impregnations N2 - Decay resistance of pine sapwood treated with titanium alkoxide solutions was tested against the brown-rot fungi Coniophora puteana and Poria placenta for exposure times of 10 and 16 wk. In practice, wood-specimens were vacuum-impregnated by alcoholic solutions of titanium alkoxide with concentrations in the range of 5–16 mass % (solid content in solution) and subsequently cured under different humidity conditions. Results reveal that treated wood degraded up to 5% in comparison to untreated one that deteriorated 38% and 50%, respectively against both wood-decay fungi. Even full protection (mass loss below 3%) was achieved against brown rot with titanium alkoxide solution containing solid content of around 5 mass% with a weight percentage gain (WPG) of 9 mass%. With increased concentration, fungal resistance decreased slightly which was associated with more cracks and imperfections formed in the deposited layers of titanium dioxide in the adjacent wood matrix. Thermal analysis verified that a considerable amount of precursor remained in the wood structure as un-hydrolyzed organic residues. These organics, being bioactive, had the tendency to induce similar fungicidal effects as those of conventional fungicides. The amount of organic residues is correlated with the decay resistance of the tested samples. In a prolonged decay test, mass losses of 16-wk incubated samples do not show behavior different from that of the wood samples incubated for 10 wk. This result implies that the decay protection is permanent and confirms further the fungicidal activity of titanium-alkoxide-treated wood. KW - Precursor solutions KW - Sol-gel process KW - Equivalent solid content KW - Brown rot KW - Coniophora puteana KW - Poria placenta KW - Fungal colonization KW - Biocidal effect PY - 2013 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2012.04.026 SN - 0964-8305 VL - 77 SP - 56 EP - 62 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Barking AN - OPUS4-27622 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Stephan, Ina T1 - Detection of fungal infestations of wood by ion mobility spectrometry N2 - During their growth on wood many fungi produce characteristic volatile organic compounds as secondary metabolites. These microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) can be used as indicators of fungal growth even when such growth is concealed. In order to investigate the formation of these volatile metabolites on building materials, specimens of pine sapwood on agar media colonized by the dry-rot fungus Serpula lacrymans and a mixture of six moulds were examined. MVOCs from this fungal growth were studied over a period of up to half a year by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) headspace analysis using a sensitive, portable IMS mini-device. The IMS headspace spectra from the growing fungal specimens obtained during this time span are differed from non-incubated wood specimens and indicate the presence of a mixture of MVOCs. The composition and amount of volatile metabolites of the fungi changed during cultivation. This was confirmed by a principal component analysis (PCA). Identification of different MVOCs in the headspace according to drift time and the mobility of ionized gaseous species in reference to GC-MS investigations were proposed. It was concluded that IMS can be used as a rapid and sensitive on-site method to indicate actively growing fungi concealed within wood. KW - Dry rot KW - Serpula lacrymans KW - Moulds KW - Concealed infestation KW - Ion mobility spectrometry KW - Fungal detection PY - 2011 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2011.03.008 SN - 0964-8305 VL - 65 IS - 5 SP - 675 EP - 681 PB - Elsevier CY - Barking AN - OPUS4-23994 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Detjens, Marc A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Banach, Ulrich T1 - Temperature influence on coulometric trace humidity measurement N2 - Planar coulometric sensors were tested in humidified synthetic air at various gas temperatures. Generated frost point temperature in the gas ranged from -30 °C to -60 °C and were measured by coulometric sensors and in addition by a calibrated dew point hygrometer. The gas temperatures, which were measured by a calibrated Pt100 sensor, were set to -20 °C, 0 °C, 23 °C, 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C during the experiments. Empiric nonlinear functions were calculated between the generated humidity and the sensor signals. In comparison to the measured signals at 23 °C, the sensor signals were lower at the other gas temperatures. The measurements at 60 °C showed indistinct results due to a great signal noise. The response behavior of the sensors was similar at 23 °C, 40 °C and 50 °C. In contrast to that, the sensors reacted slowly at a gas temperature of -20 °C and 0 °C. In summary, with coulometric sensors it was possible to measure continuously trace humidity with an expanded uncertainty below 2 K. T2 - IEEE Sensors 2017 CY - Glasgow, Scotland, UK DA - 30.10.2017 KW - Response behavior KW - Coulometric sensors KW - Trace humidity measurement KW - Temperature influence KW - Chemical reaction PY - 2017 SN - 978-1-5386-4056-2 SP - 1308 EP - 1310 PB - IEEE CY - Piscataway, NJ, USA AN - OPUS4-43241 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Detjens, Marc A1 - Majewski, J. T1 - On-site calibration system for trace humidity sensors N2 - A portable device for calibration of trace humidity sensors and an adopted calibration procedure have been developed. The calibration device is based on humidity generation by permeating water through polymeric membrane tubes. Water vapour transmission rates for various polymers were experimentally determined in order to select the most suitable polymeric material. The developed trace humidity generator consists of a gas-flow polymeric hose immersed in a water reservoir thermostated by a sensorcontrolled heater. Mole fractions of water vapour between 1 µmol/ molˉ¹ and 350 µmol/molˉ¹ (equivalent to frost-point temperatures from -76 °C to -31 °C) were generated by varying either the operating temperature or gas flow. The operating temperature can be varied from 20 °C to 60 °C and kept stable within 0.1 K. Uncertainty analysis indicated that the trace humidity generator produces gas flows of constant humidity amounts with a relative expanded uncertainty less than 3.4% (k = 2) of the generated value. KW - Polymeric tubes KW - Measurements KW - Trace Humidity KW - Sensor calibration KW - Water vapour permeation PY - 2016 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2016.05.013 SN - 0263-2241 VL - 91 IS - 9 SP - 251 EP - 257 PB - Elsevier Ltd. AN - OPUS4-36762 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Detjens, Marc A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Banach, Ulrich T1 - Coulometric trace humidity measurement in technical gases N2 - Trace humidity was measured by using miniaturized planar coulometric sensors in technical gases such as hydrogen, nitrogen, helium, nitrous oxide, and synthetic air. Frost point temperatures tf in the gases ranged from −60 °C to −30 °C, which is equivalent to a vapour mole fraction xv from 10 μmol mol−1 to 376 μmol mol−1. In addition, the generated humidity was determined by using a precision dew point hygrometer as reference. Nonlinear calibration functions were calculated that correlated electric current (sensor signal) and reference humidity. Parameters of functions were tested with one-way analysis of variances (ANOVA) to prove if all used sensors had a similar behavior in the same gas during experiments. Results of ANOVA confirmed that averaged functions can be applied for trace humidity measurement in nitrogen, helium, nitrous oxide, and synthetic air. The calculated functions were negligibly different for nitrogen, helium, and synthetic air. In humidified nitrous oxide, a minor change of parameters was observed due to lower electrical currents. In total contrast to that, the measured sensor signals were significantly higher in humidified hydrogen and each sensor required its own calibration function. The reason was a recombination effect that favoured multiple measurements of water molecules. Nevertheless, it was possible to measure continuously trace humidity in all tested gases by using coulometric sensors with an expanded uncertainty below 2 K (k = 2). KW - ANOVA KW - Trace humdity measurement KW - Coulometric sensors KW - Chemical sensors KW - Measurement uncertainty PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5008463 SN - 0034-6748 SN - 1089-7623 VL - 89 IS - 8 SP - 085004, 1 EP - 8 PB - American Institute of Physics (AIP) CY - Maryland (USA) AN - OPUS4-45956 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Lorek, A. A1 - Wernecke, R. T1 - New planar trace humidity sensor N2 - A new planar sensor element for continuous coulometric trace humidity measurements in industrial gases has been developed. In order to ensure precise measurements a calibration facility including a precision dew point hygrometer as a reference device was developed. The sensor can measure the humidity in the frost point temperature range of -20 °C to -80 °C and has an expanded uncertainty of 2 K, a fast reaction time and a settling time of the entire system from 15 to 30 min. T2 - IMCS 2012 - 14th International meeting on chemical sensors CY - Nuremberg, Germany DA - 20.05.2012 KW - Trace humidity KW - Coulometric principle KW - HUMITRACE sensor KW - Humidity measurement PY - 2012 SN - 978-3-9813484-2-2 DO - https://doi.org/10.5162/IMCS2012/3.4.2 SP - 294 EP - 297 PB - AMA Service GmbH CY - Wunstorf AN - OPUS4-27570 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Detjens, Marc A1 - Banach, Ulrich A1 - Hübert, Thomas T1 - Measurement uncertainty of coulometric trace humidity sensors N2 - Especially trace amounts of water vapour in gases can be reliably determined by coulometric trace humidity sensors. The principle of these sensors is based on water vapour absorption in a hygroscopic layer and its subsequent electrolytic decomposition. The calibration of sensors was performed in the humidity range, expressed as frost point temperature, from −30°C to −80°C . This range is equivalent to volume fractions smaller than 376 µL·L−1. Generated humidity was measured with coulometric sensors and a chilled dew point hygrometer that was used as reference. An empirical non-linear function was found between sensor signal and measured reference humidity. This function consists of two parameters with a measurement uncertainty. Both calibration parameters were checked by means of one-way analysis of variance. It showed that gas specific function can be used for humidity measurement in nitrogen, hydrogen, dinitrogen monoxide, compressed and synthetic air. It is possible to determine trace humidity in all tested gases with an expanded uncertainty less than 2.1 K (coverage factor k=2 ) regarding frost point temperature. KW - Trace humidity KW - Coulometric sensor KW - Measurement uncertainty KW - ANOVA PY - 2018 DO - https://doi.org/10.1515/teme-2018-0031 SN - 0171-8096 VL - 85 IS - 12 SP - 746 EP - 753 PB - De Gruyter CY - Oldenbourg AN - OPUS4-45959 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Miessner, H. A1 - Koch, B. A1 - Hübert, Thomas T1 - Detection of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) by ion-mobility spectrometry N2 - Traces of microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs) in air can indicate the presence of growth of moulds in the indoor environment. Ion-mobility spectrometry is a very promising method for detection of these MVOCs, because of its high sensitivity. For development of an in-situ method for detection of MVOCs, a portable ion-mobility spectrometer (IMS) was used and test gases of 14 MVOCs and their respective mixtures were investigated. IMS spectra were recorded as a function of concentration of MVOCs in air. Drift time and mobility of reactant ions formed in positive polarity mode were determined and correlated with the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of the MVOCs investigated. The estimated detection limit has a specific value for each MVOC and is in the range 3 to 96 µg m-3 (1 to 52 ppbV). Indoor trials show that IMS can indicate hidden mould growth. KW - Trace gas analysis KW - MVOCs KW - Ion-mobility spectrometry KW - Mould detection PY - 2009 DO - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-009-3147-4 SN - 1618-2642 SN - 1618-2650 VL - 395 IS - 7 SP - 2313 EP - 2323 PB - Springer CY - Berlin AN - OPUS4-20082 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Banach, Ulrich A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Hübert, Thomas T1 - Multigas sensors for the quality control of spice mixtures N2 - Spices have an important impact on daily aliment. Changes of their quality resulting in far reaching consequences in different foodstuffs and imply financial losing and even health hazard. In this study it is demonstrated that application of two different portable multi gas sensors (electronic nose and ion mobility spectrometer) supported by multivariate data analysis can contribute to ensure quality control of spice mixtures and to find out product adulteration. Headspace above spice mixtures for sausages and saveloy and product counterfeitings was investigated by a metal oxide based electronic nose (e-nose of KAMINA-type). Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of sensor resistivity data was performed for differentiation. Simultaneously an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) was coupled to the emission chamber for detection of gaseous components above spice mixtures. The measured spectra show differences between the two spice mixtures and were discussed using a principal component analysis (PCA). The two multigas sensors permit discrimination between the types of spice mixtures and can indicate product adulteration. Additionally, a headspace gas analysis by gas chromatography was performed to identify the main volatile components and to prove the chemical basis for the observed differences of the multi gas sensors. KW - Spice mixtures KW - Product adulteration KW - Electronic nose KW - Ion mobility spectrometer KW - Gas chromatography KW - Multivariate data analysis PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.01.015 SN - 0956-7135 VL - 26 IS - 1 SP - 23 EP - 27 PB - Elsevier Ltd. CY - Amsterdam AN - OPUS4-25402 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tahri, K. A1 - Tiebe, Carlo A1 - Bougrini, M. A1 - Saidi, T. A1 - El Alami El Hassani, N. A1 - El Bari, N. A1 - Hübert, Thomas A1 - Bouchikhi, B. T1 - Characterization and discrimination of saffron by multisensory systems, SPME-GC-MS and UV-Vis spectrophotometry N2 - Different electronic sensor systems coupled with multivariate data analysis were applied to characterize and classify seven saffron samples and to verify their declared geographical origin. The proposed electronic sensing consists of a low-cost electronic nose (E-nose) based on metal oxide semiconductor sensors and a voltammetric electronic tongue (VE-tongue) based on voltammetric sensors. The ability of multivariable analysis methods such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs) to classify the saffron samples according to their geographical origin have been investigated. Both PCA and HCA have shown an overlapping of E-nose responses. Moreover, the SVM analysis of the E-nose database reached a 66.07% success rate in the recognition of the saffron sample odour. On the other hand, good discrimination has been reached using PCA and HCA in the VE-tongue characterization case, besides a 100% accuracy in the saffron flavour recognition was attained. To validate the proposed electronic sensing systems, analytical chemical methods such as SPME-GC-MS and UV-Vis spectrophotometry were used. These analytical methods could be helpful tools to identify the composition of volatile compounds of the analysed saffron samples. Moreover, UV-Vis spectrophotometry was also used to determine the non-volatile profile of the samples from different geographic origins. It is demonstrated that the electronic sensing systems' findings are in a satisfactory correlation with the analytical methods. In the light of these results, we might say that the electronic systems offer a fast, simple and efficient tool to recognize the declared geographical origin of the saffron samples. KW - Electronic nose KW - Voltammetric electronic tongue KW - SPME-GC-MS KW - UV-vis spectrophotometry KW - Saffron KW - Geographic differentiation KW - Multivariable analysis PY - 2015 DO - https://doi.org/10.1039/C5AY01986A SN - 1759-9660 SN - 1759-9679 VL - 7 IS - 24 SP - 10328 EP - 10338 PB - RSC Publ. CY - Cambridge AN - OPUS4-35174 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Nie, Yaru A1 - Hübert, Thomas T1 - Surface modification of carbon nanofibers by glycidoxysilane for altering the conductive and mechanical properties of epoxy composites N2 - Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were functionalized with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane and dispersed into epoxy resin. The chemical modification of CNFs was confirmed by FTIR, SEM, EDX and TGA measurements. After silanization, FTIR showed the existance of epoxy ring; EDX detected Si element; while TGA indicated 1.1 wt.% Si on CNFs. Mechanical properties were analyzed by DMA. Silanized CNFs/epoxy composites demonstrated improved dispersion of CNFs in the matrix, and an enhancement of storage modulus for about 20% compared to the neat matrix, which indicated that the modification of CNFs improved the adhesion between fillers and matrices. DC electrical conductivity of CNFs was reduced about 7-fold compared to the original CNFs due to the silane coating. Accordingly, the composites containing silanized CNFs also had lower electrical conductivity than those containing original CNFs. In spite of decreased electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity of silanized CNFs/epoxy composites was increased due to the surface modification of CNFs. KW - A. Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) KW - B. Mechanical properties KW - B. Electrical properties KW - B. Thermal properties PY - 2012 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2012.03.025 SN - 1359-835X VL - 43 IS - 8 SP - 1357 EP - 1364 PB - Elsevier CY - Oxford AN - OPUS4-26073 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -