Application of fuzzy clustering and piezoelectric chemical sensor array for investigation on organic compounds

The fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering models were used for the discrimination of organic compounds using piezoelectric chemical sensor array data of 14 a nalytes. Appropriate clusters are found by the sum of the weighted quadrati c distances between data points and cluster prototypes. A priori known info rmation can be integrated into the clustering algorithm by using constraine d prototypes. A sensor array was built using piezoelectric quartz crystal s ensors. Four AT-cut quartz crystals with 9 MHz fundamental frequencies were applied. Sensing materials were OV1, OV275, ASI50, and polyphenil-ether. T he appropriate coating materials were found by principal component analysis . The application of the fuzzy clustering method has been proved to be a re liable way of identifying similar, pure organic compounds. (C) 1999 Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.