An electronic nose based on coated piezoelectric quartz crystals to certify ewes' cheese and to discriminate between cheese varieties.

Vânia F Pais, João A B P Oliveira, Maria Teresa S R Gomes

Index: Sensors (Basel.) 12(2) , 1422-36, (2012)

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Abstract

An electronic nose based on coated piezoelectric quartz crystals was used to distinguish cheese made from ewes' milk, and to distinguish cheese varieties. Two sensors coated with Nafion and Carbowax could certify half the ewes' cheese samples, exclude 32 cheeses made from cow's milk and to classify half of the ewes' cheese samples as possibly authentic. Two other sensors, coated with polyvinylpyrrolidone and triethanolamine clearly distinguished between Flamengo, Brie, Gruyère and Mozzarella cheeses. Brie cheeses were further separated according to their origin, and Mozzarella grated cheese also appeared clearly separated from non-grated Mozzarella.