Bloodhound Sensors, a company based at the University of Leeds, currently manufactures a Sensory Array System (electronic nose) known as the BH114. This system uses an array of fourteen conducting polymer sensors to develop a ‘smell’ profile of an odorous substance. The sensors are non-specific in that they react to a variety of substances. Exposing the sensors to an odour produces a measurable change in their electrical properties (conducting properties) and it is this change that is monitored by the BH114. The software that accompanies the sensory array unit translates these electrical changes into meaningful numerical output.

There are numerous potential applications for the device within industry. For example, in the food and beverage sector the BH114 could be used to detect product contamination, process failure or product degradation. An electronic nose could also be used in environmental monitoring for assessing air odour quality . There is even the possibility of using breath samples to diagnose illness in both animals and humans. The primary aim of this project is to develop reliable statistical methods for interpreting the numerical output from the Sensory Array System, with the view to including the system in quality control processes.

Publications

Neely, K.L., Taylor, C., Prosser, O. & Hamlyn, P.F. (2001). Assessment of cooked alpaca and llama meats from the statistical analysis of data collected using an 'electronic nose'.  Meat Science, 58, 53-58.

Oldman, K.L. (2001). PhD Thesis, University of Leeds.