TY - JOUR A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Jildeh, Zaid B. A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Wendeler, Luisa A1 - Bromm, Alexander A1 - Iken, Heiko A1 - Wagner, Patrick A1 - Keusgen, Michael A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Study of Interdigitated Electrode Arrays Using Experiments and Finite Element Models for the Evaluation of Sterilization Processes JF - Sensors N2 - In this work, a sensor to evaluate sterilization processes with hydrogen peroxide vapor has been characterized. Experimental, analytical and numerical methods were applied to evaluate and study the sensor behavior. The sensor set-up is based on planar interdigitated electrodes. The interdigitated electrode structure consists of 614 electrode fingers spanning over a total sensing area of 20 mm2. Sensor measurements were conducted with and without microbiological spores as well as after an industrial sterilization protocol. The measurements were verified using an analytical expression based on a first-order elliptical integral. A model based on the finite element method with periodic boundary conditions in two dimensions was developed and utilized to validate the experimental findings. Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s151026115 SN - 1424-8220 N1 - This article belongs to the Special Issue "Gas Sensors—Designs and Applications" VL - 15 IS - 10 SP - 26115 EP - 26127 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Keusgen, Michael A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Strategies in developing thin-film sensors for monitoring aseptic food processes : Theoretical considerations and investigations of passivation materials JF - Electrochimica Acta N2 - The sterilization of packages in aseptic food processes is highly significant to maintain a consumer-safe product with extended shelf-life. Today, the sterilization of food packages is predominantly accomplished by gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in combination with heat. In order to monitor this sterilization process, calorimetric gas sensors as differential set-up of two platinum temperature sensors representing a catalytically active (additionally deposition of MnO2) and a passive segment have been recently developed. The temperature rise of the exothermic decomposition serves as an indicator of the present H2O2 concentration. In the present work, a theoretical approach considering the sensor’s thermochemistry and physical transport phenomena was formulated to evaluate the temperature rise based on the energy content of gaseous H2O2. In a further part of this work, three polymers have been analyzed with respect to their application as passivation materials. The examined polymers are photoresist SU-8, perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). Thermal analyses by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been conducted to determine the operation limits of the polymers. The overall chemical resistance and stability of the polymers against the harsh environmental conditions during the sterilization process have been examined by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2015.06.126 SN - 0013-4686 VL - 183 SP - 130 EP - 136 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jildeh, Zaid B. A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Kremers, Alexander A1 - Wagner, Torsten A1 - Wagner, Patrick H. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - FEM-based modeling of a calorimetric gas sensor for hydrogen peroxide monitoring JF - physica status solidi a : applications and materials sciences N2 - A physically coupled finite element method (FEM) model is developed to study the response behavior of a calorimetric gas sensor. The modeled sensor serves as a monitoring device of the concentration of gaseous hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2) in a high temperature mixture stream in aseptic sterilization processes. The principle of operation of a calorimetric H2 O2 sensor is analyzed and the results of the numerical model have been validated by using previously published sensor experiments. The deviation in the results between the FEM model and experimental data are presented and discussed. Y1 - 2017 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201600912 SN - 1862-6319 IS - Early View PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jildeh, Zaid B. A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Keusgen, Michael A1 - Wagner, Patrick H. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Experimental and Numerical Analyzes of a Sensor Based on Interdigitated Electrodes for Studying Microbiological Alterations JF - physica status solidi (a): applications and materials science N2 - In this work, a cell-based biosensor to evaluate the sterilization efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapor sterilization processes is characterized. The transducer of the biosensor is based on interdigitated gold electrodes fabricated on an inert glass substrate. Impedance spectroscopy is applied to evaluate the sensor behavior and the alteration of test microorganisms due to the sterilization process. These alterations are related to changes in relative permittivity and electrical conductivity of the bacterial spores. Sensor measurements are conducted with and without bacterial spores (Bacillus atrophaeus), as well as after an industrial sterilization protocol. Equivalent two-dimensional numerical models based on finite element method of the periodic finger structures of the interdigitated gold electrodes are designed and validated using COMSOL® Multiphysics software by the application of known dielectric properties. The validated models are used to compute the electrical properties at different sensor states (blank, loaded with spores, and after sterilization). As a final result, we will derive and tabulate the frequency-dependent electrical parameters of the spore layer using a novel model that combines experimental data with numerical optimization techniques. Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201700920 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 215 IS - 15 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jildeh, Zaid B. A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Wagner, Patrick H. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Thermocatalytic Behavior of Manganese (IV) Oxide as Nanoporous Material on the Dissociation of a Gas Mixture Containing Hydrogen Peroxide JF - Nanomaterials N2 - In this article, we present an overview on the thermocatalytic reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) gas on a manganese (IV) oxide (MnO₂) catalytic structure. The principle of operation and manufacturing techniques are introduced for a calorimetric H₂O₂ gas sensor based on porous MnO₂. Results from surface analyses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the catalytic material provide indication of the H₂O₂ dissociation reaction schemes. The correlation between theory and the experiments is documented in numerical models of the catalytic reaction. The aim of the numerical models is to provide further information on the reaction kinetics and performance enhancement of the porous MnO₂ catalyst. Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nano8040262 SN - 2079-4991 VL - 8 IS - 4 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jildeh, Zaid B. A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Baltes, Klaus A1 - Wagner, Patrick H. A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Development of an in-line evaporation unit for the production of gas mixtures containing hydrogen peroxide – numerical modeling and experimental results JF - International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer N2 - Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a typical surface sterilization agent for packaging materials used in the pharmaceutical, food and beverage industries. We use the finite-elements method to analyze the conceptual design of an in-line thermal evaporation unit to produce a heated gas mixture of air and evaporated H2O2 solution. For the numerical model, the required phase-transition variables of pure H2O2 solution and of the aerosol mixture are acquired from vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) diagrams derived from vapor-pressure formulations. This work combines homogeneous single-phase turbulent flow with heat-transfer physics to describe the operation of the evaporation unit. We introduce the apparent heat-capacity concept to approximate the non-isothermal phase-transition process of the H2O2-containing aerosol. Empirical and analytical functions are defined to represent the temperature- and pressure-dependent material properties of the aqueous H2O2 solution, the aerosol and the gas mixture. To validate the numerical model, the simulation results are compared to experimental data on the heating power required to produce the gas mixture. This shows good agreement with the deviations below 10%. Experimental observations on the formation of deposits due to the evaporation of stabilized H2O2 solution fits the prediction made from simulation results. Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.118519 SN - 0017-9310 VL - 143 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Boyen, Hans-Gerd A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor by use of manganese(IV) oxide as catalyst for calorimetric gas sensors JF - Physica status solidi A: Applications and materials science N2 - In this work, the catalyst manganese(IV) oxide (MnO2), of calorimetric gas sensors (to monitor the sterilization agent vaporized hydrogen peroxide) has been investigated in more detail. Chemical analyses by means of X-ray-induced photoelectron spectroscopy have been performed to unravel the surface chemistry prior and after exposure to hydrogen peroxide vapor at elevated temperature, as applied in the sterilization processes of beverage cartons. The surface characterization reveals a change in oxidation states of the metal oxide catalyst after exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Additionally, a cleaning effect of the catalyst, which itself is attached to the sensor surface by means of a polymer interlayer, could be observed. Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201330359 SN - 1521-396X (E-Journal); 1862-6319 (E-Journal); 0031-8965 (Print); 1862-6300 (Print) VL - 211 IS - 6 SP - 1372 EP - 1376 PB - Wiley-VCH CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Suco, Henri-Pierre A1 - Rysstad, Gunnar A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Monitoring the microbicidal effectiveness of gaseous hydrogen peroxide in sterilisation processes by means of a calorimetric gas sensor JF - Food control N2 - In the present work, a novel method for monitoring sterilisation processes with gaseous H2O2 in combination with heat activation by means of a specially designed calorimetric gas sensor was evaluated. Therefore, the sterilisation process was extensively studied by using test specimens inoculated with Bacillus atrophaeus spores in order to identify the most influencing process factors on its microbicidal effectiveness. Besides the contact time of the test specimens with gaseous H2O2 varied between 0.2 and 0.5 s, the present H2O2 concentration in a range from 0 to 8% v/v (volume percent) had a strong influence on the microbicidal effectiveness, whereas the change of the vaporiser temperature, gas flow and humidity were almost negligible. Furthermore, a calorimetric H2O2 gas sensor was characterised in the sterilisation process with gaseous H2O2 in a wide range of parameter settings, wherein the measurement signal has shown a linear response against the H2O2 concentration with a sensitivity of 4.75 °C/(% v/v). In a final step, a correlation model by matching the measurement signal of the gas sensor with the microbial inactivation kinetics was established that demonstrates its suitability as an efficient method for validating the microbicidal effectiveness of sterilisation processes with gaseous H2O2. KW - hydrogen peroxide KW - sterilisation KW - Bacillus atrophaeus KW - calorimetric gas sensor Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.11.048 SN - 0956-7135 VL - 31 IS - 2 SP - 530 EP - 538 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Oberländer, Jan A1 - Suso, Henri-Pierre A1 - Rysstad, Gunnar A1 - Keusgen, Michael A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Towards a wireless sensor system for real-time H2O2 monitoring in aseptic food processes JF - Physica status solidi (a) N2 - A wireless sensor system based on the industrial ZigBee standard for low-rate wireless networking was developed that enables real-time monitoring of gaseous H2O2 during the package sterilization in aseptic food processes. The sensor system consists of a remote unit connected to a calorimetric gas sensor, which was already established in former works, and an external base unit connected to a laptop computer. The remote unit was built up by an XBee radio frequency (RF) module for data communication and a programmable system-on-chip controller to read out the sensor signal and process the sensor data, whereas the base unit is a second XBee RF module. For the rapid H2O2 detection on various locations inside the package that has to be sterilized, a novel read-out strategy of the calorimetric gas sensor was established, wherein the sensor response is measured within the short sterilization time and correlated with the present H2O2 concentration. In an exemplary measurement application in an aseptic filling machinery, the suitability of the new, wireless sensor system was demonstrated, wherein the influence of the gas velocity on the H2O2 distribution inside a package was determined and verified with microbiological tests. KW - calorimetric gas sensor;hydrogen peroxide;wireless sensor system Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201200920 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 210 IS - 5 SP - 877 EP - 883 PB - Wiley CY - Weinheim ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hennemann, Jörg A1 - Kohl, Claus-Dieter A1 - Reisert, Steffen A1 - Kirchner, Patrick A1 - Schöning, Michael Josef T1 - Copper oxide nanofibres for detection of hydrogen peroxide vapour at high concentrations JF - physica status solidi (a) N2 - We present a sensor concept based on copper(II)oxide (CuO) nanofibres for the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) vapour in the percent per volume (% v/v) range. The fibres were produced by using the electrospinning technique. To avoid water condensation in the pores, the fibres were initially modified by an exposure to H2S to get an enclosed surface. By a thermal treatment at 350 °C the fibres were oxidised back to CuO. Thereby, the visible pores disappear which was verified by SEM analysis. The fibres show a decrease of resistance with increasing H2O2 concentration which is due to the fact that hydrogen peroxide is an oxidising gas and CuO a p-type semiconductor. The sensor shows a change of resistance within the minute range to the exposure until the maximum concentration of 6.9% v/v H2O2. At operating temperatures below 450 °C the corresponding sensor response to a concentration of 4.1% v/v increases. The sensor shows a good reproducibility of the signal at different measurements. CuO seems to be a suitable candidate for the detection of H2O2 vapour at high concentrations. Resistance behaviour of the sensor under exposure to H2O2 vapours between 2.3 and 6.9% v/v at an operating temperature of 450 °C. Y1 - 2013 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pssa.201200775 SN - 1862-6319 VL - 210 IS - 5 SP - 859 EP - 863 PB - Wiley CY - Weinheim ER -