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Gas sensor investigation based on a catalytically activated thin-film thermopile for H2O2 detection
(2010)
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.
Realisation of a calorimetric gas sensor on polyimide foil for applications in aseptic food industry
(2012)
A calorimetric gas sensor is presented for the monitoring of vapour-phase H2O2 at elevated temperature during sterilisation processes in aseptic food industry. The sensor was built up on a flexible polyimide foil (thickness: 25 μm) that has been chosen due to its thermal stability and low thermal conductivity. The sensor set-up consists of two temperature-sensitive platinum thin-film resistances passivated by a layer of SU-8 photo resist and catalytically activated by manganese(IV) oxide. Instead of an active heating structure, the calorimetric sensor utilises the elevated temperature of the evaporated H2O2 aerosol. In an experimental test rig, the sensor has shown a sensitivity of 4.78 °C/(%, v/v) in a H2O2 concentration range of 0%, v/v to 8%, v/v. Furthermore, the sensor possesses the same, unchanged sensor signal even at varied medium temperatures between 210 °C and 270 °C of the gas stream. At flow rates of the gas stream from 8 m3/h to 12 m3/h, the sensor has shown only a slightly reduced sensitivity at a low flow rate of 8 m3/h. The sensor characterisation demonstrates the suitability of the calorimetric gas sensor for monitoring the efficiency of industrial sterilisation processes.
Realization of a calorimetric gas sensor on polyimide foil for applications in aseptic food industry
(2010)
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).