A composite sensor array impedentiometric electronic tongue Part II. Discrimination of basic tastes

Biosens Bioelectron. 2007 May 15;22(11):2624-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2006.10.025. Epub 2006 Dec 13.

Abstract

An impedentiometric electronic tongue based on the combination of a composite sensor array and chemometric techniques aimed at the discrimination of soluble compounds able to elicit different gustative perceptions is presented. A composite array consisting of chemo-sensitive layers based on carbon nanotubes or carbon black dispersed in polymeric matrices and doped polythiophenes was used. The electrical impedance of the sensor array was measured at a frequency of 150 Hz by means of an impedance meter. The experimental set-up was designed in order to allow the automatic selection of a test solution and dipping of the sensor array following a dedicated measurement protocol. Measurements were carried out on 15 different solutions eliciting 5 different tastes (sodium chloride, citric acid, glucose, glutamic acid and sodium dehydrocholate for salty, sour, sweet, umami and bitter, respectively) at 3 concentration levels comprising the human perceptive range. In order to avoid over-fitting, more than 100 repetitions for each sample were carried in a 4-month period. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to detect and remove outliers. Classification was performed by linear discriminant analysis (LDA). A fairly good degree of discrimination was obtained.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Biomimetic Materials*
  • Biosensing Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Discriminant Analysis
  • Electric Impedance
  • Electrochemistry / instrumentation*
  • Electrochemistry / methods
  • Electronics
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Food Analysis / instrumentation*
  • Food Analysis / methods
  • Pattern Recognition, Automated / methods*
  • Systems Integration
  • Taste*
  • Tongue*
  • Transducers