Monolithic sensor array based on a quartz microbalance transducer with enhanced sensitivity for monitoring agricultural emissions

A low-cost sensor array system for agricultural applications is presented. The sensor array is based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QMB) transducer with a novel heating structure. Selective host molecules are used as gas-sensitive layers. The gas-sensitive layers were optimized for the selective detection of ammonia at varying humidity concentrations. A mode of operation is presented which allows on-line monitoring of ammonia without a reference gas (RG). In addition, this temperature modulation (TM) mode improves the signal-to-noise ratio of the sensors compared to the usually applied RG mode. Multivariate regression models are applied on the sensor array data to selectively predict the ammonia concentration in agricultural emissions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.