A method for the non-invasive measurement of the gas content of at least one gas selected from O2, CO2, amines,
nitrogen oxides,
sulfur compounds, in transparent packages made of plastic films, glass or other light-permeable materials, in which a sensor material sensitive to the gas content in the interior of the
package is excited by excitation light incident thereon to emit a fluorescent or luminescent light, the emitted fluorescent or luminescent light is detected in a detection device interacting with the sensor, whereupon the packaged materials or produced materials are subjected to sorting, and optionally counting, as a function of the gas content determined by an evaluation unit coupled to the detection device, comprising the steps of:a) optionally deep-drawing the
package;b) applying a sensor material to the inner side of a cover for the
package, or to the inner side of the package, and optionally
drying the sensor material;c) introducing into the package the materials to be packaged;d) gas-tightly closing the package by the cover while introducing a
modified atmosphere of the gas to be measured;e) placing the package on a conveying and sorting device;f) exciting the sensor material by at least one excitation
light source arranged at a defined distance from the package;g) detecting, in a contactless manner, the intensity of the fluorescent or luminescent light emitted by the sensor material as a function of the gas content in the interior of the package, by a detection device arranged at a defined distance from the conveying device during conveying of the package to the sorting device;h) electrically or electronically converting in the evaluation unit a measurement value detected in the detection device;i) optionally applying a pressure to the package, and performing steps t) to h) again;j) outputting a confirmation
signal or a rejection
signal by the evaluation unit; andk) forwarding the package to further
processing or disposal as a function of the gas content in the package calculated by the evaluation unit, and a device therefore. (FIG. 1)