Radboud University, in collaboration with NKT and VCBT, published a research article in the open-access journal Sensors on May 21, 2019. This article exploits the development, validation, and application of the first QCAP trace gas sensor, attracting more than 200 views from all around the world in two days.
The development of the first QCAP sensor prototype at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, is a new step towards practical applications for real-time quality control of stored fruits. The team at Radboud University implemented a novel broadband mid-infrared laser – a supercontinuum source – into the prototype, opening up the possibility to detect multiple volatile species simultaneously. After two years of work, this new technology has now been successfully applied in real pear storage conditions. The measurements show very promising performance, achieving a sensitivity better than 1 ppmv (part per million by volume).
Based on the feedback obtained from VCBT, the QCAP team at Radboud University is currently building the second sensor prototype with improved stability and sensitivity. This new sensor will be completed in early July, and it will be transferred to the Esteburg Obstbauzentrum in Jork (Germany) for applications in blueberry and apple storage.