Low-cost gas chromatography with gas sensor array for rapid tests in food industry processes

A portable low-cost gas chromatographic measurement system will be presented. The system consists of a novel chromatographic column - which enables measurements at room temperature and ambient air - with a downstream micro machined gas sensor array and offers the separation and identification of volatile organic compounds. The targeted application is the monitoring of flavours directly during food processing. The measurement system was characterized by using flavours like methyl pyrrole, hexanal, pinene, ethyl butyrate and limonene as test gases. Reliable and reproducible identification of the gases in the concentration range of a few ppb has been achieved.