Hyeonseok Choi, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, and his team have developed a sensor that detects hydrogen sulfide, a gas emitted when food spoils. This innovation is expected to contribute to solving food issues.
On November 11, the research team led by Senior Researcher Hyeonseok Choi announced the development of a portable ‘food freshness monitoring gas sensor.’ This technology aims to reduce food waste by detecting spoiled food during distribution and is also applicable in detecting toxic gases outside the food industry.
According to a 2021 report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 17% of global food production is wasted in the distribution process. While developing countries face severe food shortages, many other regions discard food due to freshness issues. Food waste is now addressed as a global economic problem rather than just an environmental concern.
The research team developed a sensor that detects hydrogen sulfide, which is released during protein decomposition and serves as a critical indicator of food freshness. Unlike existing technology that operates at a high temperature of 300 degrees Celsius, the new sensor can detect hydrogen sulfide at a relatively lower temperature of 200 degrees Celsius.
The team utilized porous fibers with small holes on their surfaces. They created these fibers by spraying a solution of metals and polymers at high voltage and then baking them at 600 degrees Celsius to form a straw shape. The surface holes maximize contact with hydrogen sulfide, allowing gas detection at lower temperatures.
The sensor components were miniaturized using a 3D printer to make a portable device that can connect to a smartphone for precise hydrogen sulfide detection from food. The research team anticipates that this sensor will enable accurate real-time monitoring of food freshness.
Senior Researcher Choi stated, “By connecting the sensor to a smartphone, it can be used as a food monitoring device. We also plan to focus on follow-up research measuring toxic gases in various industrial sites to improve safety and energy efficiency.”
The research results were featured as a cover article in the international journal ‘Journal of Materials Chemistry C’ on October 21st.
Reference materials:
Journal of Materials Chemistry C (2024), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC02901A