SELECTRIA PROJECT

PC 101-102  SELECTRIA: ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSORS FOR INDUSTRY 4.0

Start date: December 1, 2018
End date: November 30, 2019

Objectives

The overall objective of this project is to apply the knowledge on electrochemical sensors to develop quick and simple analysis solutions for the agrifood industry and the automotive sector. This objective is based on three perspectives: development of a new analysis method, development of a demonstration equipment and exploration of new fields of application for printed sensors. In short, the aim is to optimize a method for the detection of the ‘sulphite’ preservative in wine, prepare portable kits to analyse samples in-situ and study the applicability of printed sensors to detect contaminants derived from transport and industry.

NAITEC goals:

-Optimization of sulphite measurement methods in wine with electrochemical sensors.

-Manufacture of a prototype for a simple measurement kit. Application: lactic acid. quantification

-Detection of contaminant gases with electrochemical sensors. Application: NO2 detection.

UPNA Goals:

-Determination of which polyphenolic components present in the wine can interfere in the sulphite analysis techniques.

-Set-up and quantification of sulphites in wine through the reference measurement method and other commercial methods.

Our goal:

-Discover and quantify the effect of polyphenols on the estimation of sulphites in wine by means of electrochemical measurements.

-A simple and fast electrochemical method for the analysis of sulphite in wines.

-Determine the reliability and repeatability of electrochemical measurements.

–Manufacture of a prototype for a simple measurement kit

-Manufacture of a screen-printed digital sensor for gas detection.

What has been developed:

For the analysis of sulphites in wine, a rapid measurement method has been optimized and compared with other reference and commercial techniques, requiring longer analytical time or higher costs. Moreover, we have evaluated how other components of the wine (polyphenols) can affect the measurement. This sulphite measurement method could be applied to other items.

Conversely, a demo of what would be a portable kit for rapid and in-situ analysis of a substance of interest has been manufactured. In this case, the example has been lactic acid monitoring in sauerkraut, where the good correlation between the kit results and commercial methods had been demonstrated. This demo can help bring the simplicity of electrochemical methods closer to users in the food industry.

Finally, the possibility of applying printed sensors for gas detection has been considered. Namely, nitrogen dioxide has been selected as a target. A polluting gas from the industry and transport, whose concentration is monitored to assess air quality. Hence, a sensor material based on graphene and tin oxide particles has been deposited on digital silver sensors. The results were very promising, although further characterization tests are necessary.

The partners that have participated in this project are the Public University of Navarre and one of its institutes, IS-FOOD, in coordination with ADItech

The Government of Navarre and the Innovation and Digital Transformation Department of the University have funded this project.