ELECTRONIC NOSE

BY

Sree sailaja Suravarapu (y5ec089)

Email-id:cheeringsailu@yahoo.co.in

Vijaya Kolli (y5ec116)

Email-id:srisiri88@yahoo.com
 ABSTRACT
The term "electronic nose" was first used in a jocular sense during our early work
with sensor arrays in the 1980's. An electronic nose (e-nose) is a device that identifies the
specific components of an odor and analyzes its chemical makeup to identify it. Of all the
five senses, olfaction uses the largest part of the brain and is an essential part of our daily
lives.
Our human nose is elegant, sensitive, and self-repairing, but the E-nose sensors do not
fatigue or get the "flu". Further, the E-nose can be sent to detect toxic and otherwise
hazardous situations that humans may wish to avoid. An electronic nose can be regarded
as a modular system comprising a set of active materials which detect the odour,
associated sensors which transduce the chemical quantity into electrical signals, followed
by appropriate signal conditioning and processing to classify known odours or identify
unknown odours. The signals generated by an array of odour sensors need to be
processed in a sophisticated manner. An odor is composed of molecules, each of which
has a specific size and shape. Each of these molecules has a correspondingly sized and
shaped receptor in the human nose. When a specific receptor receives a molecule, it sends
a signal to the brain and the brain identifies the smell associated with that particular
molecule. Electronic noses based on the biological model work in a similar manner, albeit
substituting sensors for the receptors, and transmitting the signal to a program for
processing, rather than to the brain.
Electronic noses are useful in various fields. Currently, the biggest market for electronic
noses is the food industry. Environmental applications of electronic noses include
analysis of fuel mixtures, detection of oil leaks, testing ground water for odors, and
identification of household odors. Potential applications include identification of toxic
wastes, air quality monitoring, and monitoring factory emissions. Sensors can detect toxic
CO, which is odorless to humans. An electronic nose has applicability as a diagnostic
tool. The tragic bombings in London on the 7 July 2005 have caused many to call for bag
searching at the ticket barriers on the Underground. This would cause huge delays, apart
from finding the manpower to do it. A possible alternative is using an “electronic nose” to
sniff out possible explosives so that only selected bags need to be searched by staff.

1.0 INTRODUCTION: An electronic nose can be regarded as a

Scientists have endowed computers with modular system comprising a set of

eyes to see, thanks to digital cameras, active materials which detect the odour,

and ears to hear, via microphones and associated sensors which transduce the

sophisticated recognition software. Now chemical quantity into electrical signals,

they're taking computers further into the followed by appropriate signal

realm of the senses with the conditioning and processing to classify

development of an artificial nose. The known odours or identify unknown

term "electronic nose" was first used in a odours. The "electronic nose" is a

jocular sense during our early work with relatively new tool that may be used for

sensor arrays in the 1980's. As the safety, quality, or process monitoring,

technology developed, it became accomplishing in a few minutes

apparent that the animal and human procedures that may presently require

olfactory systems operate on the same days to complete. The two main

principle: A relatively small number of components of an electronic nose are the

nonselective receptors allow the sensing system which consists of

discrimination of thousands of different chemical sensors and the automated

odors. Electronic/artificial noses are pattern recognition system. The sensing

being developed as systems for the system can be an array of several

automated detection and classification of different sensing elements (e.g.,

odors, vapors, and gases. An electronic chemical sensors), where each element

nose (e-nose) is a device that identifies measures a different property of the

the specific components of an odor and sensed chemical, or it can be a single

analyzes its chemical makeup to identify sensing device (e.g., spectrometer) that

it. produces an array of measurements for

2.0 WHAT IS AN each chemical, or it can be a

combination. The quantity and
ELECTRONIC NOSE?
complexity of the data collected by comprising a set of active materials
sensors array can make conventional which detect the odour, associated
chemical analysis of data in an sensors which transduce the chemical
automated fashion difficult. Gas sensors quantity into electrical signals, followed
tend to have very broad selectivity, by appropriate signal conditioning and
responding to many different substances. processing to classify known odours or
This is a disadvantage in most identify unknown odours, see Figure 4
applications, but in the electronic nose, it
is a definite advantage. ENose can detect
an electronic change of 1 part per
million. Although every sensor in an
array may respond to a given chemical,
these responses will usually be different.
Figure 1 shows sets of responses of a
typical sensor array to different pure
chemicals:

FIGURE-2 ELECTRONIC NOSE SCHEME

Using variants of molecules found in

biology it is possible to create 'senses'
from electrical charges caused by the
binding of the molecules to mimic the
human nose. With this approach, the
sensitivity of the device can be a
thousand times better than the currently
3.0 ELECTRONIC NOSE
available electronic nose.
SCHEME:
The receptors, which will be

An electronic nose can be housed within an artificial membrane,

regarded as a modular system remain in a closed steady state until

approached by smell molecules, when
they will open and transmit an electrical 4.0 DATA PROCESSING
signal which will indicate the nature of METHODS:
the odour The signals generated by an array of
odour sensors need to be processed in a
sophisticated manner. The electronic
nose research group has obtained
considerable experience in the use of
various parametric and non-parametric
pattern analysis techniques. These
include the use of linear and non-linear
techniques, such as discriminant function
analysis, cluster analysis, genetic
FIGURE-3 CHEMICAL SENSOR algorithms, fuzzy logic, and adaptive
models. An odor is composed of
ENose uses a collection of 16 different molecules, each of which has a specific
polymer films. These films are specially size and shape. Each of these molecules
designed to conduct electricity. When a has a correspondingly sized and shaped
substance -- such as the stray molecules receptor in the human nose. When a
from a glass of soda -- is absorbed into specific receptor receives a molecule, it
these films, the films expand slightly, sends a signal to the brain and the brain
and that changes how much electricity identifies the smell associated with that
they conduct. Because each film is made particular molecule. Electronic noses
of a different polymer, each one reacts to based on the biological model work in a
each substance, or analyte, in a slightly similar manner, albeit substituting
different way. And, while the changes in sensors for the receptors, and
conductivity in a single polymer film transmitting the signal to a program for
wouldn't be enough to identify an processing, rather than to the brain.
analyte, the varied changes in 16 films Electronic noses are one example of a
produce a distinctive, identifiable growing research area called
pattern. biomimetics, or biomimicry, which
involves human-made
patterned on natural phenomena.
Figure-4 electronic nose
5.0 ANALOGY BETWEEN
applications or primitive brain, and odors can elicit
basic emotions like love, sadness, or fear
The term, "electronic
nose" or "E-nose" has come into
common usage as a generic term for an
array of chemical gas sensors
incorporated into an artificial olfaction
device, after its introduction in the title
of a landmark conference on this subject
in Iceland in 1991. The term E-nose is
not pejorative. There are striking
analogies between the artificial noses of
man and the "Bio-nose" constructed by
Nature. Figure 2 illustrates a biological
nose and points out the important

THE BIOLOGICAL NOSE features of this "instrument".

AND E-NOSE:
Of all the five senses,
olfaction uses the largest part of the
brain and is an essential part of our daily
lives. Indeed, the appeal of most flavors
is more related to the odor arising from
volatiles than to the reaction of the taste
buds to dissolved substances. Our
olfactory system has evolved not only to Fig-5 the "Biological Nose" (by Mother Nature)
enhance taste but also to warn us of
dangerous situations. We can easily Figure 3 illustrates the artificial
detect just a few parts per billion of the electronic nose. Comparing the two is
toxic gas hydrogen sulfide in sewer gas, instructive.
an ability that can save our life.
Olfaction is closely related to the limbic

Fig-6 Artificial Electronic Nose
The human nose uses the lungs to bring
the odor to the epithelium layer; the
electronic nose has a pump. The human
nose has mucous, hairs, and membranes
to act as filters and concentrators, while
the E-nose has an inlet sampling system
that provides sample filtration and
conditioning to protect the sensors and
enhance selectivity. The human
epithelium contains the olfactory
epithelium, which contains millions of
sensing cells, selected from 100-200
different genotypes that interact with the
odorous molecules in unique ways. The
E-nose has a variety of sensors that
interact differently with the sample. The
human receptors convert the chemical
responses to electronic nerve impulses.
The unique patterns of nerve impulses
are propagated by neurons through a
complex network before reaching the
higher brain for interpretation. Similarly,
the chemical sensors in the E-nose react
with the sample and produce electrical
signals. A computer reads the unique
pattern of signals, and interprets them
with some form of intelligent pattern
classification algorithm. From these
similarities we can easily understand the
nomenclature. However, there are still
fundamental differences in both the
instrumentation and software! The Bio-
nose can perform tasks still out of reach
for the E-nose, but the reverse is also
true
October 6, 2004: Onboard the space
station, astronauts are surrounded by
ammonia. It flows through pipes,
carrying heat generated inside the station
(by people and electronics) outside to
space. Ammonia helps keep the station
habitable.
But it's also a poison. And if it leaks, the
astronauts will need to know quickly.
Ammonia becomes dangerous at a
concentration of a few parts per million
(ppm). Humans, though, can't sense it
until it reaches about 50 ppmAnd then
there's fire. Before an electrical fire
breaks out, increasing heat releases a
variety of signature molecules. Humans
can't sense them either until
concentrations become high. Astronauts
need better noses!That's why NASA is Northwest National Laboratory is
developing the Electronic Nose, or exploring the technologies required to
ENose for short. It's a device that can perform environmental restoration and
learn to recognize almost any compound waste management in a cost effective
or combination of compounds. It can manner. This effort includes the
even be trained to distinguish between development of portable, inexpensive
Pepsi and Coke. Like a human nose, the systems capable of real-time
ENose is amazingly versatile, yet it's identification of contaminants in the
much more sensitive field. Electronic noses fit this category.
Environmental applications of electronic
noses include analysis of fuel mixtures,
detection of oil leaks, testing ground
water for odors, and identification of
household odors. Potential applications
figure-7 working process
include identification of toxic wastes, air
6.0 ADVANTAGES OF E-NOSE: quality monitoring, and monitoring
Our human nose is elegant, sensitive, factory emissions. Sensors can detect
and self-repairing, but the E-nose toxic CO, which is odorless to humans.
sensors do not fatigue or get the "flu".
6.2 ELECTRONIC NOSES FOR
Further, the E-nose can be sent to detect
MEDICINE:
toxic and otherwise hazardous situations
that humans may wish to avoid. Because the sense of
6.1 ELECTRONIC NOSE FOR smell is an important sense to the
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING: physician, an electronic nose has
applicability as a diagnostic tool. An
Enormous amounts of
electronic nose can examine odors from
hazardous waste (nuclear, chemical, and
the body (e.g., breath, wounds, body
mixed wastes) were generated by more
fluids, etc.) and identify possible
than 40 years of weaponsÕ production
problems. Odors in the breath can be
in the U.S. Department of EnergyÕs
indicative of gastrointestinal problems,
weaponsÕ complex. The Pacific
sinus problems, infections, diabetes, and
liver problems. Infected wounds and production especially when qualitative
tissues emit distinctive odors that can be results will do.
detected by an electronic nose. Odors
6.4 ELECTRONIC NOSE FOR
coming from body fluids can indicate
MULTIMEDIA APPLICATIONS:
liver and bladder problems. A more
futuristic application of electronic noses
Multimedia systems are widely used in
has been recently proposed for
consumer electronics environments
telesurgery
today, where humans can work and
communicate through multi-sensory
6.3 ELECTRONICS NOSE FOR THE
interfaces. Unfortunately smell detection
FOOD INDUSTRY:
and generation systems are not part of
Currently, the biggest today's multimedia systems. Hence we
market for electronic noses is the food can use electronic nose in multimedia
industry. Applications of electronic noses environment.
in the food industry include quality
6.5 ELECTRONIC NOSE USED IN
assessment in food production,
DETECTION OF BOMBS:
inspection of food quality by odor,
control of food cooking processes,
The tragic bombings in
inspection of fish, monitoring the
London on the 7 July 2005 have caused
fermentation process, verifying if orange
many to call for bag searching at the
juice is natural, monitoring food and
ticket barriers on the Underground. This
beverage odors, grading whiskey,
would cause huge delays, apart from
inspection of beverage containers,
finding the manpower to do it. A
checking plastic wrap for containment of
possible alternative is using an
onion odor, and automated flavor control
“electronic nose” to sniff out possible
to name a few. In some instances
explosives so that only selected bags
electronic noses can be used to augment
need to be searched by staff. The concept
or replace panels of human experts. In
has been around for a long time, and was
other cases, electronic noses can be used
initially ridiculed. The basic idea is a
to reduce the amount of analytical
device that identifies the specific
chemistry that is performed in food
components of an odour and analyzes its 2. E:\enose\Electrochemistry
chemical makeup to identify it. One encyclopedia --- Electrochemical
mechanism would be an array of nose.mht
electronic sensors would sniff out the
3.
odours while a second mechanism would
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/
see if it could recognize the pattern.
06oct_enose.htm
6.6 OTHER APPLICATIONS:
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Electronic nose can be
5. E:\enose\12.mht
used for early fire detection. E-nose
offers an opportunity to develop an
6. E:\enose\Artificial Noses ___ and
instrumental approach for the human
Taste.mht
analytical endpoints like odor, flavor,
hazardous, contaminated, spoiled, and
the like.

7.0 CONCLUSION:

Humans are not well suited

for repetitive or boring tasks that are
better left to machines. No wonder the
E-nose is sometimes referred to as a
"sniffer". The E-nose has the interesting
ability to address analytical problems
that have been refractory to traditional
analytical approaches. GOSPEL is a
European network of excellence in
Artificial Olfaction.

8.0 REFERENCE:

1. Electronics for u August 2006 edition.