Use of an Electronic Tongue to Detect Geosmin in Distilled Water

Abstract

An electronic tongue (ET) system consisting of conducting polymer sensors was employed to detect geosmin (GSM) in distilled water. GSM is a tainting compound and known to cause undesirable tastes and odors in water and aquaculture farming. Diluted solutions of GSM were prepared in distilled water at different concentrations. The electrical response (capacitance) of the sensors was analyzed using principal analysis component (PCA). The data obtained were separated into different clusters indicating a good sensibility of the ET system to this compound in distilled water. The ET showed signal saturation for concentrations higher than 300 ng.L−1. So far, the detection limit of our system is 25 ng.L−1. Nevertheless, close grouping between repeated tests indicated that the ET system response is reproducible.