Method (100) for detecting a
gaseous substance, in particular
ethanol, in a gas mixture using a gas sensor, with • a first detection step (101) in which at least one first
measured quantity (K1) representing a first chemical and / or physical parameter of the gas mixture, in particular a concentration of
ethanol, is detected by a first sensor element (4), • a second detection step (102) in which at least one second chemical and / or physical parameter of the gas mixture, in particular a temperature, a pressure or a
humidity, which is different from the first chemical and / or physical parameter, is detected by a second sensor element (5), • a first comparison step (103) in which it is compared whether an absolute value of a
time derivative of the first measurement quantity (K1) exceeds a first predetermined threshold (SW1) and whether an absolute value of a
time derivative of the second measurement quantity (M) exceeds a second predetermined threshold (SW2), • a first determination step (104) in which a
start time (t S ) and one at the
start time (t S ) corresponding initial measurement (K Start ) of the first chemical and / or physical parameter is determined if the first comparison (103) is positive, • a third acquisition step (105) in which at least one further first measurement (K2) is acquired, • a second comparison step (106) in which it is compared whether at least one further first measurement quantity (K2) of the initial measurement quantity (K Start ) corresponds, • a second determination step (107) in which an end time (t E ) is determined if the second comparison (106) is positive, • a third comparison step (108) in which it is compared whether the amount of a difference between the end time (t E ) and the
start time (t S ) greater than a specified
minimum time interval (t) min ) is, and • a
signal generation step (109) in which an output
signal (10) is generated if the third comparison (108) is positive.