Informative nature of the electronic nose output signals based on the piezoelectric sensors

Abstract

The purpose of this research was assessing the influence of the various factors on the output signals of the static "electronic nose" based on the piezoelectric sensors, and determining the informative nature of these signals for the identification and determination of the marker-substances related to the pathogenic processes in the equilibrium gas phase over the aqueous solutions. Individual substances contained in bio samples in the presence of pathogenic and neoplastic processes, such as ammonia, amines, carboxylic acids, ethanol, 1-butanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, phenol, hydrogen sulfide and water were selected as the marker-substances. The selective coating of sensors was chosen based on the results of the numerous studies for the living systems of different nature in order to determine the deviations from the norm, which included standard chromatographic phases and specific sorbents (indicators, crown ethers). It was shown that the analytical information of the electronic nose based on the piezoelectric sensors no more dependent on the experimental conditions than other popular, widely used methods of analysis. The informative value of the sensors array’ output signals which were used to identify the substances was described. The array set of piezoelectric sensors identification parameters was established in order to detect amines, organic acids, alcohols, ethyl acetate, acetone in the equilibrium gas phase over the aqueous solutions. The influence of the sensors order in the array on the values of three-element identification parameters has been demonstrated. The scheme of the identification parameters application, including nonselective ones, has been proposed for detecting the organic substances coincidentally at least two parameters. The possibility of an application of these parameters to identify amines, acids, alcohols, ketones in the equilibrium gas phase over the aqueous solutions of mixtures from these substances has been proven. This approach was characterized by high sensitivity and specificity, and may be used for the identification of substances in equilibrium gas phase over the samples with high water content (blood, urine, lymph, perspiration, juices, beverages). Key words : piezoelectric sensors, electronic nose, analytical signals, marker-substances, identification parameters, informativeness DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15826/analitika.2017.21.2.001 T.A. Kuchmenko and A.A. Shuba* Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, faculty of ecology and chemical technology, Revolution Avenue, 19, Voronezh, 394036, Russian Federation