Review on MOS Gas Sensors based e-Noses and their Applications to Food Analysis

An e-nose is an electronic instrument which consists of chemical sensors array having partial specificityand necessary pattern recognition tool, capable of recognizing different types of odors. This review focuses oncommercially available metal oxide gas sensors and its use in commercial as well as experimental e-noses. The reviewcovers fabrication and working of MOS based gas sensors, material used for fabrication, Processes, Companies that areproducing various range of gas sensor modules for different gases, commercial e-nose systems using such sensors andtypical application they can handle. The review also focuses on use of MOS based e-noses for quality controlapplications to food and beverages, determination of storage shelf-life or freshness, detection of contaminants oradulteration of wide range of foods products including: fish, meat, grains, alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, fruits,milk and dairy products, fresh vegetables, olive oils, nuts, and eggs etc.