Qualitative and quantitative identification of H2S/NO2 gaseous components in different reference atmospheres using a metal oxide sensor array

Many environmental problems due to atmospheric pollution have increased the interest for the development of portable multisensor systems (electronic noses) for gas detection applications. In this way, we use a metal oxide sensor array dedicated to two industrial and environmental gases, alone or mixed. These gases have an antagonistic influence on the sensor layers, reducing (H2S) or oxidising (NO2). So the sensor time-responses present different behaviour according to the (low or high) concentration of the gases. In addition, humidity presents a notable reducing influence. We present in this work a new method to discriminate successfully the concentration of the atmospheric components, in three different reference atmospheres taking into account humidity and carbon dioxide. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.