High sensitive and selective ethylene measurement by using a large-capacity-on-chip preconcentrator device

Abstract Using a large-capacity-on-chip preconcentrator device for selective ethylene measurement leads to some challenges. The dramatic increase of the water influence and the gas chromatography effect of the preconcentrator must be known and compensated before a good measurement with this new device can be performed. Nevertheless, after facing these challenges the small gas chromatograph presented in this paper was for the first time able to detect an ethylene concentration of 170 ppbv. Deduced from this measurement a detection limit below 50 ppbv can be reached, which is absolutely mandatory for shelf life prediction of climacteric fruits. New stationary phases were tested. The used packed gas chromatography column is now capable of separating vaporized water and ethylene gas from each other, which was a breakthrough in the analysis of ethylene concentrations in ambient air. It can be predicted that the system will be available at a price under 1000 €.