Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MOVOS (Valorisation of MOF-based VOC Gas Sensors)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-04-01 al 2022-03-31
Problem addressed and importance for society - Food loss is a recognized problem with a global impact on the economy and the environment. Packaging plays a vital role in preserving food freshness and preventing loss. Besides adding convenience and enabling handling and transportation, packaging reduces food loss and decrease of value to a great extent. However, the determination of expiration dates lacks the precision that could prevent the discarding of food still fit for consumption. To err on the safe side, static expiration dates printed on the food packaging indicate a ‘worst-case scenario’. As a consequence, large quantities of good-quality food are wasted. Since food perishing is dependent on external conditions, packaging that dynamically senses and indicates freshness would prevent such food waste. It is well-known that microbiological or chemical spoilage processes in food products lead to specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs). However, past efforts to integrate VOC sensors for checking food freshness failed because of cost (target: < 0,2 € per sensor), lack of sensitivity (ppm concentration range), or incompatibility with packaging fabrication (especially flexible foils).
Overall Objectives - The MOVOS project focuses on the valorization of VOC gas sensors based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOVOS has the following overall objectives: 1) Innovation potential research and network development and 2) development of a portable demonstrator for the sensor readout.
Conclusions of the Action: The objectives of the action were fully achieved. The requirements for a smart sensor and the innovation potential were determined through literature research and network interactions. A MOF demonstrator sensor was developed to address the food packaging requirements.
Overall Objectives - The MOVOS project focuses on the valorization of VOC gas sensors based on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOVOS has the following overall objectives: 1) Innovation potential research and network development and 2) development of a portable demonstrator for the sensor readout.
Conclusions of the Action: The objectives of the action were fully achieved. The requirements for a smart sensor and the innovation potential were determined through literature research and network interactions. A MOF demonstrator sensor was developed to address the food packaging requirements.
The following work was carried out during the project.
Innovation Potential Research
The state-of-the-art VOC sensors were identified and compared. First, an overview of gas sensors was made for the most important VOC gases. Further, the St-Art research was completed with food packaging sensors and indicators. As a conclusion, the technical gaps for smart food packaging sensors were discussed. Next, a business environmental analysis was performed in parallel with the establishment of a partner network. Finally, a synthesis was provided of the information of the innovation potential.
IP Consolidation
The prior art, with a focus on patents, was listed and evaluated. Public patent databases such as Espacenet and Google Patents were used. About 13 relevant patent documents were found and evaluated. In addition, the scientific literature was researched for prior art. The Patent research and filling were executed with the support of the tech transfer office of KU Leuven. A patent for a MOF-based optical-electronic gas sensor was filed in May 2021, partially overlapping with the final concept of the demonstrator. The current demonstrator will be further developed and considered on a permanent basis for patenting.
Smart Food Sensing Demonstrator
Taking into account the initial input on the sensor requirements, the choice was made to develop a sensor based on the gas sensing properties of MOF thin films. Due to the public nature of this report, no further details on the demonstrator are provided.
The main results achieved so far:
• A clear view of sensor requirements for food packaging
• Insights into the innovation potential, including value proposition, market and value chain, channels, scalability and economy of the manufacturing of the sensor, and potential partners.
• Extended partner network
• Food gas sensing demonstrator with feedback from potential partners
• Initial consolidated IP
• View on follow-up projects to increase the TRL and/or valorization
Innovation Potential Research
The state-of-the-art VOC sensors were identified and compared. First, an overview of gas sensors was made for the most important VOC gases. Further, the St-Art research was completed with food packaging sensors and indicators. As a conclusion, the technical gaps for smart food packaging sensors were discussed. Next, a business environmental analysis was performed in parallel with the establishment of a partner network. Finally, a synthesis was provided of the information of the innovation potential.
IP Consolidation
The prior art, with a focus on patents, was listed and evaluated. Public patent databases such as Espacenet and Google Patents were used. About 13 relevant patent documents were found and evaluated. In addition, the scientific literature was researched for prior art. The Patent research and filling were executed with the support of the tech transfer office of KU Leuven. A patent for a MOF-based optical-electronic gas sensor was filed in May 2021, partially overlapping with the final concept of the demonstrator. The current demonstrator will be further developed and considered on a permanent basis for patenting.
Smart Food Sensing Demonstrator
Taking into account the initial input on the sensor requirements, the choice was made to develop a sensor based on the gas sensing properties of MOF thin films. Due to the public nature of this report, no further details on the demonstrator are provided.
The main results achieved so far:
• A clear view of sensor requirements for food packaging
• Insights into the innovation potential, including value proposition, market and value chain, channels, scalability and economy of the manufacturing of the sensor, and potential partners.
• Extended partner network
• Food gas sensing demonstrator with feedback from potential partners
• Initial consolidated IP
• View on follow-up projects to increase the TRL and/or valorization
Since the project results are under evaluation for patenting, we cannot report on the progress beyond the state of the art.
We foresee the broad potential impact of the current project if the complete implementation is attained, as follows.
Impact on Food sector and Society: One of the focal points of the MOVOS project will be the innovative development of sensors for smart packaging. A key driver to develop smart packaging is the well-recognized and global problem of food loss. In the US nearly 40% of all food is wasted over the entire value chain.2 In Canada, food loss accounts for an economic loss of $31 billion annually.3 Although the climate footprint of Europe is slightly less than North America and Canada, using these numbers, we estimate the economic loss at about € 519 billion. For an average American family, the food waste amounts to about $1500 annually. Food wasting is not the same for each food type. While the amounts are highest for cereals and fruit, meat has nearly the lowest percentage. The intensity of meat production, however, ranks its environmental impact among the highest. Focusing on the retail/distribution sector, where the introduction of a gas sensor seems most practical and which represents 12% of the food loss on average, we estimate the saving potential in the order of € 62 billion for Europe.
Extended impact: Beyond food packaging, the knowledge base and network built up within MOVOS will lead to leverage in further application domains. Air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide. While outdoor air pollution often appears in the media, the effects of indoor air pollution are not to be underestimated since the average person spends about 22 h per day indoors. Many chemicals that decrease the quality of indoor air are emitted by carpets, paints, furniture, etc. The majority of these pollutants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Since VOCs can cause not only discomfort but also debilitating or even fatal conditions (e.g. respiratory diseases, cancer)6, it is desirable to measure VOC concentrations with a high spatial and temporal resolution via low-cost but reliable miniature sensors. The rapid evolution towards energy-efficient buildings with only on-demand ventilation makes this need even more pressing. However, current miniature air quality sensors produce data that is often questionable due to the measurement approach itself or susceptibility to environmental parameters. Furthermore, selectively measuring a single harmful VOC is particularly challenging because of the low concentration of the analyte and the multitude of interfering compounds present in indoor air (e.g. water vapor, ethanol, acetone, food aromas). Currently available miniature sensors (e.g. metal oxide semiconductor sensors) typically cannot distinguish a VOC of interest from, for instance, an air freshener.
We foresee the broad potential impact of the current project if the complete implementation is attained, as follows.
Impact on Food sector and Society: One of the focal points of the MOVOS project will be the innovative development of sensors for smart packaging. A key driver to develop smart packaging is the well-recognized and global problem of food loss. In the US nearly 40% of all food is wasted over the entire value chain.2 In Canada, food loss accounts for an economic loss of $31 billion annually.3 Although the climate footprint of Europe is slightly less than North America and Canada, using these numbers, we estimate the economic loss at about € 519 billion. For an average American family, the food waste amounts to about $1500 annually. Food wasting is not the same for each food type. While the amounts are highest for cereals and fruit, meat has nearly the lowest percentage. The intensity of meat production, however, ranks its environmental impact among the highest. Focusing on the retail/distribution sector, where the introduction of a gas sensor seems most practical and which represents 12% of the food loss on average, we estimate the saving potential in the order of € 62 billion for Europe.
Extended impact: Beyond food packaging, the knowledge base and network built up within MOVOS will lead to leverage in further application domains. Air pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide. While outdoor air pollution often appears in the media, the effects of indoor air pollution are not to be underestimated since the average person spends about 22 h per day indoors. Many chemicals that decrease the quality of indoor air are emitted by carpets, paints, furniture, etc. The majority of these pollutants are volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Since VOCs can cause not only discomfort but also debilitating or even fatal conditions (e.g. respiratory diseases, cancer)6, it is desirable to measure VOC concentrations with a high spatial and temporal resolution via low-cost but reliable miniature sensors. The rapid evolution towards energy-efficient buildings with only on-demand ventilation makes this need even more pressing. However, current miniature air quality sensors produce data that is often questionable due to the measurement approach itself or susceptibility to environmental parameters. Furthermore, selectively measuring a single harmful VOC is particularly challenging because of the low concentration of the analyte and the multitude of interfering compounds present in indoor air (e.g. water vapor, ethanol, acetone, food aromas). Currently available miniature sensors (e.g. metal oxide semiconductor sensors) typically cannot distinguish a VOC of interest from, for instance, an air freshener.