Technology
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is the replacement of air in a pack with a single or a mixture of gases. MAP packaging is a technique to extend shelf life of products. Dairy products, bakery & confectionary, poultry, seafood, (processed) meat products, convenience food, fruits & vegetables as we find in the supermarket are packed under modified atmosphere.
Non-invasive measurements
Our sensor consists of a luminescent spot integrated in a gas tight foil. Since the spot is integrated inside the foil the spot cannot come into direct contact with the food.
In the long path from producer to consumer lots of things can go wrong with the MAP packaging and therefore also with the product itself: the package can be damaged during transportation, incorrect use in the supermarket, but also wrong tuning of the packaging process.
It is estimated that 30 to 35% of MAP packages are not properly packed due to incorrect sealing and / or erroneous gas composition.
The result is disposal of a large amount of food products at the packaging line, the supermarket or in the consumer’s home.
There are no good methods to detect faulty gas compositions non-invasively. Currently used invasive sampling methods often lead to unnecessary rejection and destruction of whole batches.
SensorSpot has developed a smart foil with an integrated oxygen sensor that can determine whether the food product is properly packed.
Determining the oxygen concentration in MAP can take place during the packaging process, the distribution path and in the supermarket. The system consists of an oxygen sensor which is implemented in the foil of the package in combination with a readout device.
equipment
Oxygen permeability of the inside layer permits oxygen molecules to pass this layer and reach the sensor spot. Met behulp van intelligente software wordt bepaald of het signaal duidt op een goede of foute gassamenstelling van de verpakking. De combinatie van de sensor en het meetinstrument maakt het mogelijk om elke verpakking op een non-invasieve wijze te controleren.
Sensor
Our sensor consists of a luminescent spot integrated in a gas tight foil. Since the spot is integrated inside the foil the spot cannot come into direct contact with the food. Oxygen permeability of the inside layer permits oxygen molecules to pass this layer and reach the sensor spot. De doorlaatbaarheid van de onderste laag is dermate groot dat zuurstofmoleculen uit de verpakking de sensor kunnen bereiken. Verfmoleculen van de sensor kunnen echter niet de omgekeerde weg bewandelen.
