Electronic noses - A mini-review

Electronic noses are a new class of analytical instruments anticipated to h ave an impact in many areas. They are based around an array of sensors each having a partial specificity and thus producing an odour fingerprint that can be identified by a pattern recognition system. In this review the techn ologies involved are discussed, giving particular emphasis to the sensors s ince these form the heart of the systems. The major sensor technologies are described, indicating both their strengths and their weaknesses. Finally, after a brief discussion of data processing technologies, the review ends w ith an assessment of the current state of the art and possible future direc tions.