Hydrogen sulphide is the silent killer of sewer pipes — it corrodes concrete and steel from the inside, and existing sensors only measure it in the air above the water, which massively underestimates the real levels. A Danish company built a tiny electrochemical sensor that goes directly into the wastewater and measures dissolved sulphide in real time. Think of it like putting a thermometer in the soup instead of holding it above the pot. This gives utilities accurate data to dose chemicals precisely and predict where pipes will fail before they collapse.
Hydrogen sulphide corrodes sewer pipes, pumps, and treatment equipment from the inside — costing the global wastewater industry over €1.4 trillion annually in corrosion damage. Current gas-phase sensors underestimate the real H2S levels, forcing utilities to either under-treat (and suffer pipe collapse) or over-dose chemicals at massive cost. There has been no reliable way to measure dissolved sulphide directly in wastewater in real time.
SulfiLogger built and patented an auto-calibrated industrial Micro Electrochemical Cell (iMEC) sensor that measures dissolved hydrogen sulphide directly in wastewater. The project delivered prototypes for testing, certification, and first demonstration deployment.
If you are a wastewater utility dealing with pipe corrosion and unpredictable chemical dosing costs — this project developed an auto-calibrated sensor (iMEC) that measures dissolved H2S directly in the water. According to project data, this can save up to €150,000 in chemical expenses per utility, and €0.5M to €1.3M through better asset management.
If you are an engineering firm hired to diagnose sewer corrosion problems — this project built a sensor that provides real-time dissolved sulphide data instead of unreliable gas-phase estimates. This lets you deliver accurate network health assessments and recommend targeted interventions instead of blanket chemical treatment.
If you are a chemical supplier whose clients overspend on neutralization agents because they lack real data — this sensor enables precision dosing, which means your clients buy less but stay longer. The wastewater industry spends 88.4% of its budget on asset management, and better data turns your product from a guessed expense into an optimized investment.
The project data does not disclose unit pricing. However, the objective states savings of up to €150,000 per utility in chemical expenses alone, with total asset management savings of €0.5M to €1.3M per average wastewater utility. Contact SulfiLogger directly for current pricing at sulfilogger.com.
The iMEC sensor was designed for network-wide deployment. The project's roadmap describes starting with individual dosing pump feedback and H2S diagnostics, then scaling to full network monitoring for a High Performing Asset Management strategy. Prototypes were delivered for both testing/certification and first demonstration.
SulfiLogger A/S holds the patent on the iMEC sensor technology. The project was funded under SME Instrument Phase 2, meaning commercialization rights stay with the company. Licensing or OEM arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with SulfiLogger.
The project included a deliverable specifically for 'tests and certification' of prototypes. Based on available project data, certification was part of the market maturation plan, but specific certifications obtained are not detailed in the CORDIS record.
According to the project objective, existing gas-phase sensors underestimate H2S levels, leading to either insufficient treatment or excessive chemical dosing. The iMEC measures dissolved H2S directly in the wastewater, which is the actual source of corrosion, giving more accurate readings for decision-making.
The project ran from 2018 to 2020 under SME Instrument Phase 2, which specifically funds market maturation. Prototypes were delivered for certification and first demonstration. SulfiLogger has an active commercial website (sulfilogger.com), indicating the product has moved toward market availability.
This is a lean, commercially focused consortium: just 2 partners, both Danish SMEs, with 100% industry participation and zero academic or research partners. That is unusual for EU projects and signals this was never a research exercise — it was a market push. SulfiLogger A/S led as coordinator with €1,526,875 in EU funding under the SME Instrument Phase 2, which the European Commission reserves for companies ready to scale a proven product. The all-industry, single-country setup means fast decision-making and no academic delays, but also means the technology validation came from internal capabilities rather than independent research institutions.
SulfiLogger A/S is based in Denmark. Visit sulfilogger.com for direct contact details or request an introduction through SciTransfer.
Want to evaluate the iMEC sensor for your sewer network or integrate it into your service offering? SciTransfer can arrange a direct introduction to SulfiLogger's team and help assess fit for your specific infrastructure.
