The features of the electronic tongue in comparison with the characteristics of the discrete ion-selective sensors

A comparison of the features of the electronic tongue; comprising an array of non-specific chemical sensors and pattern recognition methods, with anal ytical characteristics of the discrete conventional ion-selective sensors ( electrodes) has been performed. A method has been suggested that allows obs erving the detection limit and the selectivity of a sensor array at least t hree to five times better than that for a single sensor. The electronic ton gue also exhibits a number of completely new features, such as the possibil ity to determine some unusual species in solutions, e.g. organic substances , and the capability to make measurements without the standard reference el ectrode. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.