A Gas Chromatographic System for the Detection of Ethylene Gas Using Ambient Air as a Carrier Gas
1
International Graduate School for Dynamics in Logistics (IGS), University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany
2
Institute for Microsensors, -Actuators and -Systems (IMSAS), University of Bremen, 28334 Bremen, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sensors 2017, 17(10), 2283; https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102283
Received: 5 September 2017
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Revised: 21 September 2017
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Accepted: 23 September 2017
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Published: 7 October 2017
(This article belongs to the Section Chemical Sensors)
Ethylene gas is a naturally occurring gas that has an influence on the shelf life of fruit during their transportation in cargo ships. An unintentional exposure of ethylene gas during transportation results in a loss of fruit. A gas chromatographic system is presented here for the detection of ethylene gas. The gas chromatographic system was assembled using a preconcentrator, a printed 3D printed gas chromatographic column, a humidity sensor, solenoid valves, and an electrochemical ethylene gas sensor. Ambient air was used as a carrier gas in the gas chromatographic system. The flow rate was fixed to 10 sccm. It was generated through a mini-pump connected in series with a mass flow controller. The metal oxide gas sensor is discussed with its limitation in ambient air. The results show the chromatogram obtained from metal oxide gas sensor has low stability, drifts, and has uncertain peaks, while the chromatogram from the electrochemical sensor is stable and precise. Furthermore, ethylene gas measurements at higher ppb concentration and at lower ppb concentration were demonstrated with the electrochemical ethylene gas sensor. The system separates ethylene gas and humidity. The chromatograms obtained from the system are stable, and the results are 1.2% repeatable in five similar measurements. The statistical calculation of the gas chromatographic system shows that a concentration of 2.3 ppb of ethylene gas can be detected through this system.
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Keywords:
gas chromatographic system; electrochemical ethylene gas sensor; preconcentrator; 3D printed gas chromatographic column
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MDPI and ACS Style
Zaidi, N.A.; Tahir, M.W.; Vellekoop, M.J.; Lang, W. A Gas Chromatographic System for the Detection of Ethylene Gas Using Ambient Air as a Carrier Gas. Sensors 2017, 17, 2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102283
AMA Style
Zaidi NA, Tahir MW, Vellekoop MJ, Lang W. A Gas Chromatographic System for the Detection of Ethylene Gas Using Ambient Air as a Carrier Gas. Sensors. 2017; 17(10):2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102283
Chicago/Turabian StyleZaidi, Nayyer Abbas, Muhammad Waseem Tahir, Michael J. Vellekoop, and Walter Lang. 2017. "A Gas Chromatographic System for the Detection of Ethylene Gas Using Ambient Air as a Carrier Gas" Sensors 17, no. 10: 2283. https://doi.org/10.3390/s17102283
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