Fraunhofer Researchers Advance Mobile Sensor Technology for Rapid Product Authenticity Checks

© Fraunhofer IVV
Portable analyzer for rapid olive oil authenticity assessment

(IN BRIEF) Fraunhofer researchers are developing a portable gas chromatography sensor system that enables rapid, on-site detection of counterfeit foods and contaminated materials without the need for laboratory analysis. Created under the PUMMEL project, the device combines chip-based gas chromatography with chemical sensing to detect volatile organic compounds that reveal product authenticity and quality. Initially focused on counterfeit olive oil and contaminated plastic recyclates, the modular system is designed for easy use by non-experts and supports faster, more cost-effective quality control across multiple industries.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 6-Jan-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Fraunhofer researchers are developing a mobile gas chromatography sensor system designed to identify counterfeit and low-quality products directly on site, offering a faster and more accessible alternative to traditional laboratory testing. The new technology aims to help detect food fraud cases—such as olive oil adulterated with cheaper substitutes—as well as contaminated plastic recyclates used in packaging, enabling rapid authenticity and quality checks even by non-experts.

© Fraunhofer IPMS
Micro-gas chromatography columns (µGC columns) etched into a 200-mm silicon wafer. The columns are sealed with a second wafer using a wafer-bonding process and then separated. They are subsequently coated with a stationary phase, similar to conventional GC columns.

The initiative is being carried out under the Fraunhofer PREPARE project PUMMEL by research teams from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology IME, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV. Together, the partners are combining expertise in gas chromatography, sensor development, chemical analytics, and data interpretation to create an affordable, easy-to-use device capable of detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These compounds act as chemical fingerprints that reveal product composition, authenticity, and potential health risks.

Food fraud has increased in recent years due to globalized supply chains, high demand, and strong price pressure. Until now, verifying authenticity has typically required complex laboratory analysis conducted by trained specialists, making routine checks costly and time-consuming. The Fraunhofer system is designed to close this gap by enabling rapid, on-the-spot assessments without the need for specialized laboratory infrastructure.

Within the PUMMEL project, the researchers are focusing on two key industrial use cases. The first is the detection of counterfeit olive oil, one of the most frequently falsified food products worldwide. The second targets contaminated plastic recyclates, a growing concern as recycling rates rise and recycled materials are increasingly used in food-contact packaging. For both applications, dedicated demonstrators are being developed to detect application-specific VOC patterns.

© Fraunhofer IPMS
Unsealed µGC column

The portable measurement system, roughly the size of a shoulder bag, integrates a silicon-chip-based gas chromatography column, a detector, sample preparation components, control and data-processing electronics, and a power supply. Gas chromatography separates individual VOCs as they pass through a polymer-coated micro-column etched into silicon. Each compound interacts differently with the column walls, allowing the system to separate and identify substances based on their molecular properties. The resulting gas chromatogram provides a clear chemical signature that can be used to assess purity, origin, age, or contamination.

Initial tests using conventional gas chromatography columns have already demonstrated reliable VOC separation and effective sample analysis. While miniaturized columns do not require the same separation performance as large laboratory systems, the researchers are optimizing chip-based designs to ensure sufficient resolution for practical quality assessments. Data analysis and validation are handled by Fraunhofer IME, while Fraunhofer IVV is responsible for system integration and application-specific demonstrators.

© Fraunhofer IPMS
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the center of a sawn-open µGC chip showing the reversal point of the column in the center.

The device is being designed with non-specialist users in mind, such as food producers, bottlers, and incoming-goods inspectors, who will be able to operate the system following minimal training. Its modular architecture allows components to be adapted for different applications, making the platform suitable for a wide range of quality control tasks across food, recycling, agriculture, and chemical industries.

The research team will present initial project results at the Analytica trade fair in Munich from March 24 to 27, 2026, showcasing the system at the Fraunhofer joint stand in Hall 3, Stand 312 and highlighting its potential for rapid, on-site fraud detection and quality assurance.

Fraunhofer PREPARE project PUMMEL

Point-of-use micro-multichannel gas chromatograph

Duration:
March 2023 through August 2026

Project funded by:
Fraunhofer program PREPARE

Project partners:
• Fraunhofer IME (validation and benchmarking)
• Fraunhofer IPMS (component concept for chip-based implementation, development of the GC separation column)
• Fraunhofer IVV (sample preparation, system electronics and integration)

Media Contacts:

Franka Balvin
Editor
Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS
Maria-Reiche-Str. 2
01109 Dresden, Germany
Phone +49 351 8823-1144
franka.balvin@ipms.fraunhofer.de

SOURCE: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft