Detection of off-odors using a hybrid modular sensor system

Experimental results are presented of a qualitative analysis of off-odors in packaging materials, obtained with a hybrid modular sensor system. The sensing elements are combined in two modules of the hybrid modular sensor system MOSES II which contains different types of transducers. The modules chosen in the present study consist of 8 metal oxide-based semiconductor gas sensors and 8 polymer coated quartz microbalance sensors (QMB). Pattern recognition was performed by principal component analysis (PCA). For packaging materials a discrimination between unprinted and printed materials could be achieved successfully by comparing three different samples. These results characterize the performance and reproducibility of the newly designed hybrid modular sensor system for investigations of a broad spectrum of other applications.