Merging ethylene NDIR gas sensors with preconcentrator-devices for sensitivity enhancement

Automated and reliable measurement of low concentrations of ethylene gas in ambience during transport of fruits is of great interest in fruit logistics. Knowledge about the ethylene concentration can be used for ripeness and quality prediction as well as for new logistic approaches like FEFO. One suitable approach is the use of non-dispersive-infrared detectors because of their robustness and selectivity. The main disadvantage of those detectors is limited sensitivity. In this paper such a measurement system is presented. To overcome sensitivity limitations, the system was combined with an ethylene preconcentrator to increase the system sensitivity indirectly by using adsorption effects on graphitized carbon. This provides the possibility to measure ethylene concentrations below the measurement limit of the NDIR-detector.