Current trends in 'artificial-nose' technology.
Basic principles derived from biological olfaction, such as combining semiselective sensor arrays with pattern recognition, have been used to develop instrumentation capable of broad-band chemical detection and quantification. Commercially available instruments are useful in areas including quality control in the food, beverage and fragrance industries, environmental monitoring, chemical-purity and -mixture analysis, and medical diagnostics. Ongoing research is aimed at the development of more-advanced instruments that are smaller, cheaper, faster and more stable and reliable. These second-generation instruments are likely to find an increasing number of applications, including the on-line monitoring of fermentation and other bioprocesses.
Dickinson
T A
TA
Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA.
White
J
J
Kauer
J S
JS
Walt
D R
DR
D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D009812:Odorants; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated; D011786:Quality Control