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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.
The detection of the aroma and flavour volatile compounds of spices is key in product quality control. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop new electronic sensing systems for food adulteration control and authenticity assessment for protecting customer's health.
In this work, the capability of the E-nose and VE-tongue in combination with SPME-GC-MS to correctly discriminate between several cumin samples of different geographical origins and to detect their adulteration, by using unsupervised and supervised chemometric tools, was evaluated. Regarding the aroma profile, eleven volatile compounds were characterized by SPME-GC-MS; all of them were found in cumin powder while only eight are found in cumin seeds. The main volatile compounds detected were b-pinene, m-cymene, g-terpinene, cuminaldehyde and cuminic alcohol, in different proportions depending on the cumin sample form (seed or powder). In summary, the results obtained are sufficiently encouraging as a starting point for the development of new electronic sensing systems with more improvement in the reliability of the sensor's performance as well as chemometric tools in order to deal with a complex dataset.
A metrological approach to improve accuracy and reliability of ammonia measurements in ambient air
(2016)
The environmental impacts of ammonia (NH3) in ambient air have become more evident in the recent decades, leading to intensifying research in this field. A number of novel analytical techniques and monitoring instruments have been developed, and the quality and availability of reference gas mixtures used for the calibration of measuring instruments has also increased significantly. However, recent inter-comparison measurements show significant discrepancies, indicating that the majority of the newly developed devices and reference materials require further thorough validation. There is a clear need for more intensive metrological research focusing on quality assurance, intercomparability and validations. MetNH3 (Metrology for ammonia in ambient air) is a three-year project within the framework of the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP), which aims to bring metrological traceability to ambient ammonia measurements in the 0.5–500 nmol mol−1 amount fraction range. This is addressed by working in three areas: (1) improving accuracy and stability of static and dynamic reference gas mixtures, (2) developing an optical transfer standard and (3) establishing the link between high-accuracy metrological standards and field measurements. In this article we describe the concept, aims and first results of the project.
The chapter describes the application of electronic noses (multigas sensors) for the quality control of spices and spice mixtures. Electronic noses were successfully applied for headspace analysis of spices. It was demonstrated in many investigations that electronic noses can contribute to the characterization of spices and spice mixtures in order to distinguish spices and spice mixtures, differentiate by origin, growth seasons,and processing,indicate adulteration from original, detect mold infestation. Electronic noses can be used as a fast screening method to provide information about the product quality. However, it needs samples and methods for reference, careful training, and complex calibration to consider influencing and disturbing effects as well as the possible limitations of the instrumentation. The correlation to classical chemical analysis methods is always advisable. Machined olfaction methods are capable to support the sensory analysis; however, they cannot yet substitute them.
Ammonia and its conversion product ammonium have a strong negative impact on human health and ecosystems. Most ammonia measurements in ambient air are performed in the molar fraction range (0.5 to 500) nmol/mol. There is a need for reliable traceable ammonia gas standards as well as in situ analytical procedures for the monitoring of ammonia in ambient air.
The permeation method is an effective tool for dynamically generating precise gas standards with a low uncertainty in the concentration range of a few nmol/mol to several µmol/mol in an inert carrier gas, e. g. pure nitrogen or purified ambient air. Here, we present our ammonia gas standard generator as well as results of the characterisation of its individual components supporting the uncertainty assessment according to GUM for stable gas concentrations in this range.
In order to detect ammonia in the nmol/mol-range, a suitable sensor has to be developed. In this contribution, we therefore additionally present first approaches on the development of such a sensor using optical fluorescence as transduction mechanism due to its intrinsically high sensitivity and high spatial resolution. Incorporation of a fluorescent dye, which shows fluorescence enhancement in the presence of ammonia, into a polymer matrix allows to reversibly recognize low amounts of ammonia. It can be concluded that fluorescence sensor is a robust tool for measurements of ammonia; however it needs calibration for the planed use.