Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects

The study investigates methods to enhance the reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> monitoring using low-cost electrochemical sensors to measure gaseous pollutants in air by addressing the impacts of temperature and relative humidity. The temperature within a plastic container was controlled usi...

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Main Authors: Daniellys Alejo Sánchez, Olivier Schalm, Arianna Álvarez Cruz, Erik Hernández Rodríguez, Alain Martínez Laguardia, David Kairuz Cabrera, Mayra C. Morales Pérez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Atmosphere
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1365
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author Daniellys Alejo Sánchez
Olivier Schalm
Arianna Álvarez Cruz
Erik Hernández Rodríguez
Alain Martínez Laguardia
David Kairuz Cabrera
Mayra C. Morales Pérez
author_facet Daniellys Alejo Sánchez
Olivier Schalm
Arianna Álvarez Cruz
Erik Hernández Rodríguez
Alain Martínez Laguardia
David Kairuz Cabrera
Mayra C. Morales Pérez
author_sort Daniellys Alejo Sánchez
collection DOAJ
description The study investigates methods to enhance the reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> monitoring using low-cost electrochemical sensors to measure gaseous pollutants in air by addressing the impacts of temperature and relative humidity. The temperature within a plastic container was controlled using an internal mica heater, an external hot air blower, or cooling packs, while relative humidity was adjusted using glycerine solutions. Findings indicated that the auxiliary electrode signal is susceptible to temperature and moderately affected by relative humidity. In contrast, the working electrode signal is less affected by temperature and relative humidity; however, adjustments are still required to determine gas concentrations accurately. Tests involving on/off cycles showed that the auxiliary electrode signal experiences exponential decay before stabilizing, requiring the exclusion of initial readings during monitoring activities. Additionally, calibration experiments in zero air allowed the determination of the compensation factor <i>n<sub>T</sub></i> across different temperatures and humidity levels. These results highlight the importance of compensating for temperature and humidity effects to improve the accuracy and reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> measurements using low-cost electrochemical sensors. This refinement makes the calibration applicable across a broader range of environmental conditions. However, the experiments also show a lack of repeatability in the zero air calibration.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2073-4433
language English
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series Atmosphere
spelling doaj-art-4e4304353d83422489d752443e690f792025-08-20T01:53:44ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332024-11-011511136510.3390/atmos15111365Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity EffectsDaniellys Alejo Sánchez0Olivier Schalm1Arianna Álvarez Cruz2Erik Hernández Rodríguez3Alain Martínez Laguardia4David Kairuz Cabrera5Mayra C. Morales Pérez6Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Road to Camajuaní Km 5.5, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, CubaAntwerp Maritime Academy, Noordkasteel Oost 6, 2030 Antwerpen, BelgiumFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Road to Camajuaní Km 5.5, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, CubaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Road to Camajuaní Km 5.5, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, CubaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Road to Camajuaní Km 5.5, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, CubaFaculty of Electrical Engineering, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Road to Camajuaní Km 5.5, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, CubaFaculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Universidad Central “Marta Abreu” de Las Villas, Road to Camajuaní Km 5.5, Santa Clara 54830, Villa Clara, CubaThe study investigates methods to enhance the reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> monitoring using low-cost electrochemical sensors to measure gaseous pollutants in air by addressing the impacts of temperature and relative humidity. The temperature within a plastic container was controlled using an internal mica heater, an external hot air blower, or cooling packs, while relative humidity was adjusted using glycerine solutions. Findings indicated that the auxiliary electrode signal is susceptible to temperature and moderately affected by relative humidity. In contrast, the working electrode signal is less affected by temperature and relative humidity; however, adjustments are still required to determine gas concentrations accurately. Tests involving on/off cycles showed that the auxiliary electrode signal experiences exponential decay before stabilizing, requiring the exclusion of initial readings during monitoring activities. Additionally, calibration experiments in zero air allowed the determination of the compensation factor <i>n<sub>T</sub></i> across different temperatures and humidity levels. These results highlight the importance of compensating for temperature and humidity effects to improve the accuracy and reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> measurements using low-cost electrochemical sensors. This refinement makes the calibration applicable across a broader range of environmental conditions. However, the experiments also show a lack of repeatability in the zero air calibration.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1365calibrationrepeatabilityNO<sub>2</sub> monitoringlow-cost sensorstemperature compensationhumidity effects
spellingShingle Daniellys Alejo Sánchez
Olivier Schalm
Arianna Álvarez Cruz
Erik Hernández Rodríguez
Alain Martínez Laguardia
David Kairuz Cabrera
Mayra C. Morales Pérez
Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects
Atmosphere
calibration
repeatability
NO<sub>2</sub> monitoring
low-cost sensors
temperature compensation
humidity effects
title Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects
title_full Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects
title_fullStr Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects
title_short Enhancing the Reliability of NO<sub>2</sub> Monitoring Using Low-Cost Sensors by Compensating for Temperature and Humidity Effects
title_sort enhancing the reliability of no sub 2 sub monitoring using low cost sensors by compensating for temperature and humidity effects
topic calibration
repeatability
NO<sub>2</sub> monitoring
low-cost sensors
temperature compensation
humidity effects
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/15/11/1365
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AT ariannaalvarezcruz enhancingthereliabilityofnosub2submonitoringusinglowcostsensorsbycompensatingfortemperatureandhumidityeffects
AT erikhernandezrodriguez enhancingthereliabilityofnosub2submonitoringusinglowcostsensorsbycompensatingfortemperatureandhumidityeffects
AT alainmartinezlaguardia enhancingthereliabilityofnosub2submonitoringusinglowcostsensorsbycompensatingfortemperatureandhumidityeffects
AT davidkairuzcabrera enhancingthereliabilityofnosub2submonitoringusinglowcostsensorsbycompensatingfortemperatureandhumidityeffects
AT mayracmoralesperez enhancingthereliabilityofnosub2submonitoringusinglowcostsensorsbycompensatingfortemperatureandhumidityeffects