Electronic tongues for environmental monitoring based on sensor arrays andpattern recognition: a review

The use of sensor arrays and pattern recognition applied to the obtained si gnal patterns for environmental monitoring are discussed in some detail. Di fferent types of electronic tongues are described and evaluated for monitor ing purposes. More specifically the performance of multielectrode arrays us ed for voltammetric analysis of aqueous samples is described. It is, e.g. s hown how such an 'electronic tongue' can be used to monitor the quality of water in a production plant for drinking water. It is pointed out that the concepts of 'electronic noses' and 'electronic tongues' often predict a qua lity of a sample rather than giving exact information about concentrations of individual species. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.