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An Electronic Analog for the Olfactory Processes a
Author(s) -
WILKENS WALTER F.,
HARTMAN JOHN D.
Publication year - 1964
Publication title -
journal of food science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1750-3841
pISSN - 0022-1147
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2621.1964.tb01746.x
Subject(s) - microelectrode , electrode , electrolyte , chemistry , olfactory system , optoelectronics , analytical chemistry (journal) , materials science , neuroscience , chromatography , biology
SUMMARY Polarized microelectrodes were utilized as sensing devices, analogous to the human olfactory hairs, for qualitative and quantitative responses to volatiles. The measured response current is attributed to the interaction of a volatile with an electrical double layer at the electrode interface. The use of different microelectrode metals, electrolytes, and impressed voltages makes possible different electrical double‐layer phenomena. With the use of only a few of the many possible combinations of electrode metals, electrolytes, and impressed voltages, differential‐response sensitivity was obtained for a variety of volatiles at any given microelectrode condition. A comparison of the responses of several odorants at a number of different electrode conditions demonstrated a differential‐response specificity similar to that thought to occur in the human at different olfactory receptor sites.