Electronic Nose Detects Melamine without Sample Preparation

Electronic Sensor Technology (Newbury Park, California) has developed a method for detecting and measuring melamine in milk powder using the company’s zNose electronic nose that requires no sample preparation. The FDA’s method reportedly requires 85 min of sample preparation time plus a 20-min GC-MS run, and a fast-screen LC–MS method requires 14.5 min after sample preparation. According to the company, the electronic nose method requires less than 3 min. The presence of melamine in milk powder has been linked to infant illnesses and deaths. Melamine has also been found in pet food.