top of page

Spectrik and VTEC Lasers and Sensors complete first tests of the ammonia sensor for the livestock successfully!

There is a need for accurate and reliable sensors that can measure ammonia in the stable environment. This is needed to enable the transition from modeled emissions to real emissions. Therefore accurate and affordable sensors are essential!



Innovative Sensor Technology for Livestock Industry Advancement

Spectrik, together with VTEC Lasers and Sensors, is developing an ammonia sensor for the livestock market. The sensor under development would eventually provide an ammonia sensor that can meet the requirements needed for the entire livestock industry (pig, poultry and dairy), while being affordable, accurate and reliable.


Currently, electrochemical sensors are used. These are not durable and have relatively high cost of ownership. The required accuracy needed in air outflow (behind emission reduction solutions) and in and around dairy barns cannot be achieved with electrochemical sensors.

By using a reliable technology for gas measurements (optics or light) in a new way (integrated on a chip), Spectrik will be able to create a reliable, accurate and affordable sensor.

Spectrik’s sensor combines the advantages of optics and semicon. We do this by creating an integrated photonic chip. By leveraging the advantages of the chip miniaturizing, we can significantly reduce costs. Therefore, our ammonia sensors has the potential to go below the price tag of electrochemical sensors.


Results of the lab test

VTEC has successfully completed initial laboratory testing. The objective of the first phase was to establish a setup capable of measuring ammonia with an accuracy of 1 ppm (parts per million).

While this level of accuracy is suitable for measurements within pig and poultry sectors, it falls short for the dairy sector. The results were highly promising, indicating the feasibility of advancing the technology in the coming years to create an ammonia sensor capable of reaching the 0.01 ppm threshold.

Achieving this milestone is a major step for the development of a reliable, accurate and affordable ammoniasensor that can help the livestock industry in terms of biodiversity and animal health and welfare. But also give the farmers the control back on the development of their farms. The next step is testing in a pig stable in July this year to get a clear understanding of how the sensor performs in the field!

0 weergaven
bottom of page