Intercomparison at AIRMOTEC

During the second week of April 2024, AIRMOTEC / CHROMATOTEC welcomed partners from SINTEF, Saftra Photonics, University of Warwick and Volatile for an intercomparison to test and evaluate newly-developed sensors and detection units by PurPest project partners. Over the course of the week, AIRMOTEC targeted 3 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) tracers from Phythophthora ramorum, Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys). Known gas concentrations of VOCs were generated dynamically using AIRMOTEC’s reference devices and monitored with a GC-FID-MS, used as a sensitive reference instrument, allowing to separate, analyze and identify the targeted VOCs. Some potential interferent VOCs were also mixed with the abovementioned VOCs, in order to challenge the sensors and detectors.