Development of inteligent and biodegradable sensor with mioglobin as H2S indicator

• Grant number: 12/01669-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2012
• End date: May 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Telma Teixeira Franco
• Grantee: Marina Vicentini de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Química (FEQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A new concept of intelligent sensor was developed in this project in order to detect and indicate the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This intelligent sensor had a wide application, can be applied to control the gas leaks in petrochemical industry or control the quality of food products, since H2S is one of the metabolites released by contaminating microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. A biodegradable and intelligent sensor was developed using as matrix the chitosan and incorporating myoglobin as a colorimetric indicator of the presence of H2S. This system reports the presence of H2S in case of leaks in recovery line of petrochemicals more properly at critical points such as joints, valves and connections. Inform the consumer a possible microbiological change in the product during transportation and storage, and indicates the state of freshness of the product. The environmental problem caused by the accumulation of waste is increasing worldwide. The advantages of using chitosan are its total biodegradability, the ability to form resistant and flexible film and its low toxicity. The incorporation of myoglobin as a H2S indicator produces a colorimetric signal as a rapid response to the presence of this compound. The objective of this project is to obtain an intelligent sensor from chitosan films with an indicator of the presence of H2S gas. The work will be divided into two stages: the first is the extraction of myoglobin and the second is the incorporation of different concentrations of myoglobin in the chitosan, producing the intelligent sensor. The quantification of efficiency will be studied, forming a data banking of the colorimetric results in function of different concentrations of sulfidric gas. The mechanical and barrier properties and the matrix structure will be characterized. This project is part of FAPESP help number 2010/03090-2 and is related to the doctoral project 2008/09464-1Keywords: chitosan, intelligent sensor, hydrogen sulfide, colorimetric indicators. (AU)