Colorimetric sensor arrays based on chemo-responsive dyes for food odor visualization

Abstract Background The colorimetric sensor array technology simulates human olfaction to analyze, identify and examine complex gas and volatility based on chem-responsive dyes. Unlike human olfaction and electronic noses, colorimetric sensor array is more objective and not susceptible to interference. In additional, with the visualization, rapidity and non-destruction of analysis, colorimetric sensor array has been increasingly applied in food science and industry. Scope and approach This review focuses on the colorimetric sensor array technology and its major applications in food industry. Technical considerations associated with the chemo-responsive dyes, substrate materials, and data processing methods are discussed. In application, any type of food samples including solid, liquid food samples could be directly analyzed using colorimetric sensor array. Additionally, the recent development, and future research trends are also involved. Key findings and conclusions The colorimetric sensor array technology offers an exciting method to establish the correlation between the output of a colorimetric sensor array and the odor components, thereby enabling visual quantification of odors. It provides a potential odor-image-based monitoring tool for the rapid, reliable and in-line assessment of food safety and quality.