Miniaturised gas chromatographic system with metal oxide gas sensor array for fast detection of off-flavors

A portable low-cost gas chromatographic measurement system with a micro machined gas sensor array as detector unit is presented. The system offers the separation and identification of volatile organic compounds and enables on-line monitoring of processes in food industry. This includes food quality, e.g. in fruit stores, slaughterhouse and for consumer protection. Further applications are the detection of off-flavors in meat from non-castrated male pigs and microbiological contaminations. Reliable and reproducible identification of aromatic compounds in the concentration range of a few ppb has been achieved.