VOC detection
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are harmful to the atmospheric environment and human life. That is why it is necessary to quickly identify the presence of VOC in the air. VOC have different effects on people depending on the type and concentration. They can reach from unpleasant smells to people suffering from nausea, headaches to more severe matters like convulsions and comas. Additionally, if formaldehydes are in the gas mixture, they can even have a carcinogenic effect. That is why a sturdy and reliable VOC detection is key.
VOC can, in lower concentrations, even appear in our everyday life. Over time they are emitted from things like paint colour or furniture. This is especially true in new buildings and with new products. That is the reason why venting, air filters or home air quality systems that include VOC detection are so important. Nowadays, products can be certified with the green guard certificate to ensure, that the production process was done under low VOC emission and is climate-friendly.
In an industrial setting, one of many reasons for the presence of VOC in the air can be leakages in the process. For example, the leakage of coolant, like the widely-used hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), can have very harmful effects. HFC are potent greenhouse gases and dangerous for the environment. To ensure the safety at industrial workplaces, you can use air quality measuring systems. Alternatively, you can convey gas samples to sensor units to monitor VOC concentration. This form of VOC detection can also be applied in production lines for process control or for exhaust gases in the automotive industry. Â
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In order to build a VOC detection system, you can easily combine our active microfluidic components. The mp6 micropump actively conveys air samples to a VOC sensor. In the next step, the sensor measures the amount of VOC in the sample. This reading can easily be monitored in our software. Since the mp6 actively moves air to the sensor, this allows for a more exact reading compared to passive systems.
Video: Identifying liquids using a VOC sensor
Let’s play a little game: We have three liquids. They look the same but are vastly different. To the naked eye, it is practically impossible to tell the difference. Luckily, we have a VOC sensor that can help us identify them. And it is so easy to do.
With this VOC sensor, we do not sample the liquid itself but rather the air above it. This gives us an accurate result, thanks to active sensor feeding, without the need to disrupt the sample. Therefore, we can perform the gas analytics with minimum affect on the system itself.
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We have a full Case Study about CO2 sensors. Also, you can watch our videos on how to set up a microfluidic system that includes a flow or pressure sensor. And finally, take a look at our current portfolio of microfluidic sensors sold by us. If you do not see what you need, just contact us. We can find the prefect sensor match for you.