Fingerprint the quality of your fruits and vegetables

In the EU-funded project MAX-FRESH, Senseair is working together with other companies and universities on developing the world’s first automated multi-species trace gas sensor that can simultaneously and in real-time detect low levels of 7 volatile gases that indicate ripening, fermentation, damage or rotting of stored fruit. The tool, called Interactive Storage System (ISS) Monitor, , will provide automated alerts when unfavorable conditions are detected, to enable timely and effective interventions. The ISS-Monitor has the potential to reduce losses of stored fresh food by 50%, extend storage life with 20%, and reduce post-harvest chemical treatments with 50%.

Senseair’s task in MAX-FRESH is to develop a multi-pass optical absorption cell with a 30 meter optical pathlength for the monitoring of the gas species associated with the deterioration of fresh produce of fruit and vegetables in storage facilities.

The new multi-pass cell is a key component in the ISS Monitor, where it is integrated with a supercontinuum laser source and a mid-infrared spectrometer. In addition to the very long optical path, the multi-pass cell features a controlled internal environment at low pressure, where air samples are injected by a gas handling system. Senseair also aims at making the multi-pass cell suitable for high-volume production by developing specific mirror and production technologies.