A portable electronic nose system with chemiresistor sensors to detect and distinguish chemical warfare agents

Abstract

Electronic nose has been studied as a means to realize artificial olfaction. Currently there are still only relatively large electronic nose “instruments”, since the signal manipulation and classification are still done by a personal computer or a laptop. A portable electronic nose system based on hand-held machine has been developed by using the vapor detection array made of carbon black-polymer composites and the sensor circuit. In an effort to make a portable electronic nose, we used thin-film chemical sensors based on carbon black polymer nanocomposite to reliably detect chemical warfare agents. The use of FPGA to replace the PC has also been studied. The eNose system was exposed to dimethyl-methylphosphonate (DMMP) and DCMin part per million (ppm) concentration levels. DMMP and DCM were considered as stimulants of nerve agent-sarin, incapacitating agent-BZ gases, respectively.