INITIO · Project

Portable Sensors That Detect Dangerous Mirror-Image Chemicals in Pesticides On Site

environmentPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Many chemicals — like pesticides — come in two mirror-image forms, like left and right hands. One version can be harmless while the other is toxic, but standard tests can't tell them apart on the spot. Right now, you have to ship samples to a lab with expensive equipment and trained specialists just to figure out which version you're dealing with. INITIO built sensor prototypes that can distinguish these mirror-image pollutants directly in the field, for both gases and liquids, cutting out the lab step entirely.

By the numbers

consortium partners developing the technology

countries in the research consortium

total project deliverables completed

private companies in the consortium

academic research units contributing expertise

The business problem

What needed solving

Companies in agrochemicals, environmental testing, and water treatment currently cannot detect which mirror-image form of a chiral pollutant they are dealing with without shipping samples to specialized laboratories. This means delays of days, high costs for equipment and trained staff, and an inability to respond quickly to contamination events in the field.

The solution

What was built

The project built sensor array prototypes capable of chiral discrimination in both gas and liquid phase. This involved developing new porphyrin-based molecular receptors, integrating them with nanostructures, depositing them onto transducer surfaces, and testing the complete devices with enantiomeric pairs of model analytes — spanning 55 deliverables in total.

Audience

Who needs this

Pesticide and agrochemical manufacturers facing chiral purity regulationsEnvironmental monitoring companies offering field testing servicesWater treatment plants screening for pesticide contaminationFood safety testing laboratories checking for chiral contaminantsRegulatory agencies enforcing environmental pollution standards

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Agrochemicals & Pesticide Manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Pesticide producers and crop protection companies

If you are a pesticide manufacturer dealing with regulatory pressure to prove your products don't release the toxic mirror-image form of active ingredients — this project developed sensor array prototypes for gas and liquid phase analysis that can detect chiral differences on site, replacing expensive off-site lab testing. The consortium of 9 partners across 5 countries validated the approach from molecular design through to working sensor devices.

Environmental Testing & Compliance

SME

Target: Environmental monitoring and testing laboratories

If you are an environmental testing company struggling with slow turnaround times and high costs for chiral pollutant analysis — this project built portable sensor arrays that perform chiral discrimination directly in the field. With 55 deliverables completed across the full development chain, from molecular receptors to electronic readout, this could let your field teams do screening that currently requires sending samples back to the lab.

Water & Wastewater Treatment

mid-size

Target: Water utilities and treatment plant operators

If you are a water treatment operator needing to monitor for chiral contaminants like pesticide residues in intake or discharge water — this project created sensor prototypes that work in liquid phase to distinguish between harmful and benign mirror-image forms of pollutants. On-site detection means faster response to contamination events without waiting days for lab results.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement these sensors compared to current lab analysis?

The project data does not include specific pricing for the sensor devices. However, the objective explicitly states that current methods require expensive instrumentations and specifically trained staff, plus collection and transportation costs. Portable sensor arrays would eliminate most of those recurring costs by enabling on-site detection.

Can these sensors work at industrial scale for continuous monitoring?

The project delivered sensor array prototypes for both gas and liquid phase analysis, which is a strong foundation. However, as a FET Open research project with 2 private companies in the consortium of 9 partners, scaling to continuous industrial monitoring would likely require further engineering and ruggedization beyond the prototype stage.

What is the IP situation — can we license this technology?

The project involved 9 partners across 5 countries including 2 industry partners and 6 academic units. IP is likely shared among consortium members under Horizon 2020 rules. Licensing discussions would need to go through the coordinator at Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata or the industrial partners directly.

Which specific pollutants can these sensors detect?

The project targeted chiral pollutants broadly, with pesticides highlighted as a key example in the objective. The sensors use porphyrin-based molecular receptors designed for chiral discrimination of enantiomeric pairs. Based on available project data, specific validated analyte lists would be in the 55 project deliverables.

How reliable are these sensors compared to traditional chromatography methods?

The project completed testing and validation of sensor devices with enantiomeric pairs of model analytes, as stated in the objective. The sensor array prototypes were realized for both gas and liquid phase. Based on available project data, detailed accuracy benchmarks against laboratory methods would be documented in the project deliverables.

What is the timeline to get from prototype to a commercial product?

The project ran from 2019 to 2022 and delivered working sensor array prototypes. As a FET Open (Future and Emerging Technologies) project, this is early-stage but with demonstrated hardware. Based on available project data, commercialization would likely require additional development, regulatory certification, and manufacturing scale-up.

Consortium

Who built it

The INITIO consortium brings together 9 partners from 5 countries (Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy), with the University of Rome Tor Vergata leading. The mix is heavily academic — 6 universities and 1 research organization — reflecting the early-stage nature of FET Open research. The 2 industry partners (22% industry ratio, 1 SME) provide a pathway toward commercialization but signal that this technology is still closer to the lab than the market. For a business looking to adopt this, expect to engage primarily with university technology transfer offices rather than turnkey suppliers.

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATACoordinator · IT
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS, FOUNDATION SCHOLARS & THE OTHER MEMBERS OF BOARD, OF THE COLLEGE OF THE HOLY & UNDIVIDED TRINITY OF QUEEN ELIZABETH NEAR DUBLINparticipant · IE
JYVASKYLAN YLIOPISTOparticipant · FI
UNIVERSITE DE BORDEAUXthirdparty · FR
CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRSparticipant · FR
TALLINNA TEHNIKAÜLIKOOLparticipant · EE
UNIVERSITA DEL SALENTOparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

The coordinator is Universita degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata in Italy. SciTransfer can help identify the right contact person and facilitate an introduction.

Order a report on this consortium See UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA TOR VERGATA profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how chiral pollutant sensing could strengthen your environmental monitoring or product compliance? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the INITIO research team and help evaluate fit for your specific use case.

Order a report on this topic More in Environment & Climate