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

A. V. Legin¹, A. M. Rudnitskaya¹, Yu. G. Vlasov¹, C. Di Natale², A. D'Amico^b

1. Department of Chemistry, St Petersburg University, Radiochemistry Department, 199034, St Petersburg, Russia
2. Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Rome, Italy

J. Sensors and Actuators B, 1999, V. 58, pp. 464—468

Abstract.
Abstract A comparison of the features of the electronic tongue; comprising an array of non-specific chemical sensors and pattern recognition methods, with analytical characteristics of the discrete conventional ion-selective sensors (electrodes) has been performed. A method has been suggested that allows observing the detection limit and the selectivity of a sensor array at least three to five times better than that for a single sensor. The electronic tongue also exhibits a number of completely new features, such as the possibility to determine some unusual species in solutions, e.g. organic substances, and the capability to make measurements without the standard reference electrode.

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Keywords: Electronic tongue, Ion–selective sensors, Pattern–recognition data processing tools.