Electronic Sensor Technology 4500 zNose gas chromatograph

The 4500 zNose portable gas chromatograph, from Electronic Sensor Technology (EST), is a mobile, small footprint analyser that can detect and analyse accurately organic, biological and chemical compounds in real time.

The high-speed odour detector employs a trap and helium carrier gas to separate chemicals in near real time so that pattern recognition and trace detection can be performed in seconds. Unlike trace detectors which only detect a few select compounds, this odour detector recognises odours and fragrances based on their full chemical signature.

The 4500 is designed with an internal helium cylinder (refillable) and can use disposable helium cylinders. The lithium-ion battery is rechargeable, typically lasting 5 h.

Employing a trap and helium carrier gas, this portable odour detector injects samples into a heated column where separation is achieved (gas chromatography). Materials sequentially exit the column and are deposited on the SAW detector. This deposition results in a change in the oscillating frequency of the resonator directly proportional to the mass.

This gas chromatographer has a built-in processor, hence minimal training is needed as the processor can guide the user so that compounds are automatically identified.

The zNose uses gas chromatography calculations in a powerful manner for a variety of applications and can adaptively learn to recognise and alert on any target odour. Such applications include chemical analysis, environmental analysis, food and beverage quality assurance, and even national security.

The portable nature of the system means that it is suitable for the manufacturing environment, and applications from determining fruit flavours to identifying odours from discharges to the environment can be achieved with an array of calibrated compounds to relate to in the software library to match the operation. A benchtop model of the zNose which can achieve parts-per-trillion sensitivity and very fast response times is also available.