Ethylene detection by optical sensor based on nano-fiber Bacterial cellulose film

In this work new ethylene gas sensor was developed based on portable bacterial cellulose (BC) nano-fibers film doped with KMnO4 (K-BC). The relationship between the concentration of KMnO4 (8×10-3, 8×10-4 and 8×10-5) and the color, clarity, absorbance and the morphological properties of ethylene optical sensor was investigated. The FT-IR results showed that some new interactions have occurred between BC membrane and KMnO4. The significant reduction in the relative intensity of the characteristic XRD peak of BC in the doped films clearly indicates that the crystalline fraction decreases as a result of KMnO4 addition. SEM results indicated that the KMnO4 has no important effects on the nano-fibers and BC surface structure. The fabricated KMnO4 doped BC (K-BC) was used for determination of ethylene concentration. There was a relation between ethylene concentration and color, clarity and absorbance of film. The color, clarity and absorbance of film in the different ethylene concentration range (10–2000 µg mlit-1) were determined by spectrophotometer. The doped BC film containing diluted KMnO4 (8×10-5) showed a more clear response to ethylene concentration variation. Therefore, it has potential to be used as an optical indicator of the ethylene variations during storage of packaged fruits.

Keywords:

Cellulose , Nano-fiber , optical sensor , ethylene , banana