Real-time sensing of disinfectant by a novel dielectric methodology

Food disinfection is important to public health and safety and has many applications. A novel dielectric methodology was developed for real-time sensing of disinfectant. The methodology is based on the determination and calculation of concentration-dependent characteristic frequencies from the dielectric permittivity spectrums in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 4 MHz. As a result, a linear relationship between the delta characteristic frequency and the concentration of the disinfectant in the concentration range from 0 PPM to 200 PPM was found. Moreover, a good sensing accuracy of the concentration of the disinfectant was found. In summary, the novel dielectric methodology provides a promising approach with advantages such as long service life and low maintenance cost to real-time detect the concentration of the disinfectant, which was supposed to support a real-time disinfectant concentration sensing and adjustment system during the disinfection and wash processes of fresh produce. [Display omitted] •A novel dielectric methodology was developed to real-time detect the concentration of the disinfectant in the water.•It has many advantages, such as real-time sensing, long service life, and low maintenance cost.•A good sensing accuracy was found by five-time measurement results calculated by the new dielectric methodology.•A linear relation between the characteristic frequency and the disinfectant concentration (0 PPM - 200 PPM) was found.•It has a potential application to detect the disinfectant during disinfection and wash processes of fresh produce.