In this study, we used an electronic nose to measure odor intensity and odor quality against an absolute scale. The major feature of this device is that it automatically corrects for differences in sensor sensitivity and smell sensitivity due to odor quality, which allows the intensity of any odor quality to be determined at olfactory sensitivity. "Determined at olfactory sensitivity," means that the odor intensity can be determined as a value equivalent to the odor index defined in Korea Offensive Odor Control Law. In addition to determining the odor intensity as an odor index value, in the standard mode, this device can determine the odor quality by separating and displaying the overall odor on nine category axes (sulfur, amines, organic acids, aldehydes, aromatics, esters, hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia). The measured odor quality is displayed on a radar chart to indicate at a glance if the odor quality is close to an amine, sulfur, or a combination of the two. This device achieves these results by subjecting the signals from the ten oxide-semiconductor odor-sensor elements to our unique absolute value representation analysis. To achieve high-sensitivity measurements of odor substances to 1 ppb levels, for example, and eliminate the effects of humidity, this device incorporates a trap tube in front of the odor sensors to concentrate the odor and eliminate water vapor that can impair sensor output.
This study applied electronic nose system of sensor type that can evaluate odor characteristics by real time in leather industry spot, and investigated problem that can happen odor sensory method and instrumental analysis method. Also, by evaluating correlation between each measurement method, groped efficient odor evaluation method, and evaluated the effectiveness. Usually, because measurement surrounding and consistency according to measurer's state of olfactory method are apt to be been lacking, error range is large.
If take into account these problem, odor sensor's result that examine in this research is judged that there is interrelationship enough with olfactory method result. In comparison between odor sensory test result and instrumental analysis result, odor characteristics estimation that can bring synergy effect more than equality in box judge.