Chemical warfare agents simulants detection with an optimized SAW sensor array

An E-nose based on surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors has been developed, and sensitive polymer coatings have been optimized to detect simulants of chemical warfare agents (CWAs). The polymers selected have allowed to discriminate among simulants and classify them at low concentrations in air through Pattern Recognition Methods. Good detection responses have been achieved for very low concentrations, such as 0.05 ppm for Dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and 0.5 ppm for dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether (DPGME).