Future Potential of E-Nose Technology: A Review

Abstract

Electronic Nose (E-Nose) technology unlocks the fascinating world of electronic detection, identification, and analysis of scents and odors, paving the way for innovative research and promising applications.  E-Nose mimics the human sense of smell and has gained significant attention and is applied in various fields, including the food, health and drug industries, safety and crime, and the environmental and agricultural sectors. This technology has the potential to improve quality control, medical diagnostics, and hazardous material detection processes. The E-Nose consists of a combination of gas sensors that mimic the olfactory receptors of the human nose. These sensors detect and respond to different scent molecules, resulting in unique response patterns that can be interpreted and analyzed. E-Nose has found application in the food industry to assess food quality, detect contamination, and monitor fermentation processes. In the health field, it has been used for disease diagnosis, monitoring patient health, and detecting cancerous tissue. In addition, E-Nose has been used for security purposes, such as detection of explosives and prohibited substances, as well as identification of counterfeit products. In addition, it has been used in environmental monitoring for air quality assessment and agriculture for disease detection in crops.  Despite its promising potential, widespread adoption of E-Nose faces challenges related to sensor sensitivity, data analysis algorithms (complex data interpretation), response diversity, regulatory considerations, implementation complexity, and cost. This article reviews the latest developments in E-Nose technology, explores its applications and future potential, and highlights challenges that need to be addressed.  This is considered important because E-Nose opens up a world of electronic scent identification, and analysis with the potential to improve quality control, diagnosis, and detection.