Methodology Development for the Selection of Application-Specific E-Nose Calibrants: Focus on the Frying Process

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the development of "smart" products, driven by continuous advances in industry digitalization, a cornerstone of the industry 4.0 concept (1). The electronic nose (E-nose), which consists of an array of low-cost gas sensors and a pattern recognition unit, is an excellent technology for developing "smart" objects with diverse applications. In the food sector, for instance, it can be used for process monitoring, determining food quality, and assessing sensory properties. (2). The development of application- specific Enose devices require the execution of in-depth feasibility studies aimed at defining the most suitable hardware and software for the application (3). This paper proposes a unified methodology for the selection of application-specific calibrants that can be used for the execution of feasibility studies to perform a preliminary evaluation of the device's performance. Specifically, this methodology is exemplified by the development of a device to detect odour nuisances in the environment during frying and to monitor the process by analysing the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) generated.