Development of a handheld sensor system system for the online measurement of hydrogen peroxide in aseptic filling systems

• Published in: Physica status solidi. A, Applications and materials science Vol. 207; no. 4; pp. 913 - 918
• Main Authors: Reisert, Steffen, Henkel, Hartmut, Schneider, Andreas, Schäfer, Daniel, Friedrich, Peter, Berger, Jörg, Schöning, Michael J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin WILEY‐VCH Verlag 01-04-2010; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Catalysis; Exothermic reactions; gas sensor; Gas sensors; heterogeneous catalysis; Hydrogen peroxide; On-line systems; Optical microscopy; passivation; Sensors; Temperature sensors
• ISSN: 1862-6300; 1862-6319
• DOI: 10.1002/pssa.200983304

A handheld sensor system for the online measurement of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in aseptic sterilisation processes has been developed. It is based on a calorimetric‐type gas sensor that consists of a differential set‐up of two temperature sensors, of which one is catalytically activated and the second one is passivated and used as reference. The sensor principle relies in detecting a rise in temperature on the active sensor due to the exothermic reaction of H2O2 on the catalytic surface. To characterise the sensor system towards H2O2 sensitivity and other influencing factors, measurements have been carried out both at an experimental set‐up and a manufacturer's sterilisation machine. Physical sensor characterisation was done by means of the optical microscopy.