The use of chemometrics methods for classification of some soft drink samples by analysis of voltammetric signals obtained from metallic nanoparticle-modified electrodes

Over the past two decades, interest has increased in using diagnostic methods to analyze analytical responses derived from a set of sensors, which constitute the electronic tongue . Electronic tongue can be defined as a device from a collection of suitable electrochemical sensors each has different response toward the same sample solution [1]. Researchers are keen on using metal nanoparticles as a modifier in electrochemical assay systems. The combination of electrochemical signals from the constituents of the sensor for a single analyte will form a fingerprint which is unique for any component of the system under study [2-4]. One of the most important uses of chemometrics is to detection and classification of different compounds based on these fingerprints without the use of complex separation methods [5]. In this study an electronic tongue constitutes of a set of glassy carbon electrodes modified with Au, Ag and their core-shell structures was used for classification of some commercial fruit juice samples from different manufacturers. Electrochemical voltammetric measurements consist of successive CV and DPV experiments on the samples that results in a data matrix for each sample which can be used for classification purposes using chemometrics techniques like PCA, HCA and LDA. The obtained results showed the applicability and suitability of proposed method for sensitive and accurate detection and classification of routine samples without any complicated pretreatment and electrode preparation procedures.