Chiral discrimination of limonene by use of beta-cyclodextrin-coated quartz-crystal-microbalances (QCMs) and data evaluation by artificial neuronal networks

The enantiomeric composition of the chiral flavoring agent limonene was ana lyzed by means of a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor. As chiral sel ectors three different modified beta -cyclodextrins were investigated. The selector molecules were applied as mixtures in different polysiloxane matri ces. The chiral separation factors a for limonene obtained at 30 degreesC b y gas chromatography and by use of the QCM sensor were comparable. Evaluati on of sensor data was performed by use of an artificial neuronal network (A NN); this enabled prediction of the enantiomeric composition of the gas mix tures.