CPC G01N 33/5308 (2013.01) [G01N 33/0008 (2013.01); G01N 33/0031 (2013.01); G01N 33/0047 (2013.01); G01N 33/497 (2013.01); G01N 2033/4975 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
1. A method of determining the presence of a selected gas species analyte in a test gas sample, the method comprising:
exposing a plurality of gas sensors to the test gas sample wherein the plurality of gas sensors are the same type of gas sensor and comprise either (1) a sensor derivatized with a first type of diffusion matrix and a sensor derivatized with a second type of diffusion matrix or (2) a sensor derivatized with the first type of diffusion matrix and a sensor lacking a diffusion matrix, wherein the first type of diffusion matrix and the second type of diffusion matrix each comprise one or more than one of molecules, molecular compounds, and ionic compounds, selected to interact non- specifically with the selected gas species analyte during diffusion of the selected gas species analyte through the diffusion matrix and to and from the plurality of gas sensors;
stopping exposure of the plurality of gas sensors to the test gas sample;
determining a test sample sensor response profile of each of the plurality of gas sensors during diffusion of gas species in the test gas sample to and from each sensor, from a selected time prior to initiating sensor exposure to the test gas sample to a selected time after stopping sensor exposure to the test gas sample;
comparing the determined test sample sensor response profiles;
comparing each determined test sample sensor response profile with a corresponding control sample sensor response profile, each of the corresponding control sample sensor response profiles being determined with a control gas sample comprising the selected gas species analyte and with the same sensor or with a sensor of the same type and having the same derivatization state as the determined test sample sensor response profile with which it is compared; and,
determining the presence of the selected gas species analyte in the test gas sample based on at least one of differences and similarities observed between one or more than one of (i) the compared test sample sensor response profiles and (ii) the compared each test sample sensor response profile and corresponding control sample sensor response profile.
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