Helmholtz: Gas sensor that can monitor large areas

Licensing opportunity

Researchers at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Dresden, have invented a novel patented gas sensor system that makes it possible to monitor large areas cost-effectively the first time. The sensor can replace a large number of individual sensors, making it much cheaper than previous methods.

Potential applications for the membrane-based gas sensors (MeGa) are environmental remediation and landfill monitoring. In future the technology could also be used to monitor gas pipelines, the formation of hydrogen sulphide in water, or the underground monitoring of carbon dioxide in sequestration projects.

The principle is also applicable to liquids, so the probe is also useful for monitoring groundwater and boreholes and in process monitoring in the food industry, for example, in breweries and dairies.

The researchers also believe the system could be used to optimise ventilation and air conditioning systems.