Researchers at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) are leading a project funded by around one million euros to develop smart labels to constantly monitor the temperature of drinks in cans.
A statement from the Porto Institute explains that the project, called Thermaltrace, led by the BioMark research group, falls under the purview of the National Agency for Innovation (ANI).
The goal of the project is to bring to the market “packages with thermochromic sensors” that allow you to control the temperature of drinks inside.
“Food packaging material is by far the most important element when we talk about quality and safety, which we must ensure throughout their entire service life, including the path from production to consumer,” emphasizes ISEP.
As part of this project, the researchers intend to integrate thermochromic sensors into aluminum cans—irreversible and reversible—to “ensure product quality and safety.”
According to the institute, the irreversible sensors will “unambiguously indicate” whether a product has been exposed to extreme temperatures and for how long beyond the allowable time.
Reversible sensors will allow you to determine the current temperature of the product by the color of the label.
ISEP indicates that the concept will be used for packaging fresh milk, which is an “innovative application in the market” to ensure the “quality” of the product as well as its instantaneous temperature.
“The sensors developed as part of the Thermaltrace project are a clear indicator of the quality and safety of milk when it reaches the end consumer,” the institute says, adding that the project will offer “intelligent and 100% recyclable packaging.”
BioMark ISEP researcher Felismina Moreira, quoted in the statement, explains that label-shaped devices “provide temperature indicators that change color in a visible manner due to their sensitivity to heat.”
“These sensors are easy to read, low cost and do not require technical knowledge to use. They are very effective in quality control, production, transportation and storage of canned milk,” adds the researcher.
In addition to ISEP, the project, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) with around one million euros, has collaborations with the University of Coimbra, the University of Nova de Lisbon and Flexible Meridian.
The new packaging will go to market through Flexible Meridian, ISEP said, noting that the project is in its final stages and is expected to be completed by the end of June.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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