[Detection and determination of acetone using semiconductor sensors]

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Sensor Technology

Context:

• Acetone detection is crucial for medical diagnostics, particularly for monitoring ketone bodies.
• Semiconductor gas sensors offer a promising platform for developing portable and cost-effective analytical tools.
• Evaluating acetone concentrations requires precise analytical methods with high sensitivity and selectivity.

Purpose:

• To investigate the factors influencing acetone evaluation using self-prepared semiconductor gas sensors.
• To determine the analytical properties and performance of these sensors for acetone quantification.
• To assess the feasibility of using these sensors for distinguishing acetone levels in biological samples like urine.

Summary:

• Two methods were employed: flow-injection analysis at 600°C and headspace analysis at 370°C.
• Flow-injection analysis of aqueous solutions showed deviations of 4-33% for 1 µL samples (1-700 g/L).
• Headspace analysis achieved detection limits of 37.5-50 mg/L with 1-36% accuracy for 5 µL samples (40-600 mg/L), distinguishing concentrations above/below 40 mg/L.

Impact:

• The sensor technology demonstrates potential for differentiating physiological and pathological acetone levels in urine.
• Comparison with a reference method on 100 urine samples showed good agreement for high and low concentrations, but less so for trace amounts.
• Potential for false-positive results due to ethanol presence in urine was noted, requiring further investigation.