Scientists from the Belgorod State University (NRU "BelGU") have created and patented a highly sensitive humidity sensor made of a composite based on citrogypsum, a waste product from the production of citric acid.

This was reported to RT by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

According to the authors of the work, the advantage of their development over domestic and foreign analogues is the low cost of production and environmental friendliness.

The sensor can be widely used in agriculture, for example in poultry incubators, where the correct temperature and humidity conditions are very important.

The raw material for the manufacture of such humidity sensors will be citrogypsum, a by-product of the biochemical synthesis of citric acid.

Chemical compounds are in it in an insoluble form, so it practically does not find re-industrial use and is stored in large quantities at landfills.

In the new work, the scientists investigated the properties of citrogypsum and found that it can quickly respond to changes in air humidity, which allows this industrial waste to be reused to produce accurate and fast moisture meters.

Scientists have developed a sensor with a simple design: the device includes a moisture-absorbing layer on a dielectric substrate, conductive plates connected in a series electrical circuit with a current source and a measuring device.

  • Sensor Image

  • © Press Service of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia

“The sensor allows continuous measurement of humidity in the range of 35-90% in the temperature range from 0 to +70 °C.

An important advantage of the sensor is its low weight and size characteristics, as well as the ability to restore the initial resistance and resume measurements after 60 seconds, ”said Ivan Nikulin, director of the engineering center of the National Research University BelSU, in an interview with RT.

Recall that sensors are widely used to monitor the level of humidity in domestic and industrial premises, and some are used in meteorological studies.

The currently known designs have a number of disadvantages: a long measurement process, the need to wait a certain time until the sensor can be reused.

In addition, many of these devices have a limited range.

Scientists have already received a patent for the invention and plan to introduce the development into mass production.