A low-cost DIY methane sensor for Team Braunschweig

Our collegues from Braunschweig are cultivating microorganisms that grow on methane (CH₄) that is supplied via the gas phase. To monitor the methane uptake by their E. co(w)li, they would like to measure the methane concentration in the gas. With the standard analytical methods in the lab, this is very difficult, but when they told us about their problem, we knew that we might be able to help them. We assembled an Arduino-based methane sensor and wrote a program to record the data.

The componentes for the methane sensor include:

• [http://www.dx.com/p/arduino-nano-v3-0-81877 Arduino Nano V3 clone]
• [http://www.sainsmart.com/sainsmart-mq-4-methane-gas-sensor-natural-coal-co-detector-module-for-arduino.html SainSmart MQ-4 Gas Sensor]
• A [http://www.dx.com/p/syb-170-mini-breadboard-for-diy-project-red-140101#.U-ng9VLwC7Q Breadboard] and some wires