Amplification of gas chromatographic-olfactometric signal by ethanol.
An indication of the amplifying effect of ethanol vapors from a humidifier on the perceived odor intensity of eluting odorants was discovered in previous GC--olfactometric (GC-O) experiments. In this study were tested 12 volatiles belonging to various chemical classes to confirm this phenomenon. Two methods were used: the normal GC-O design, whereby panelists smell the effluent incessantly during the whole run, and a design applicable in a target-oriented quantitative GC-O, whereby panelists start sniffing just a short time before the olfactory event starts. Two hydroalcoholic solutions and pure water were put into the humidifier and tested in both designs. Continuous aspiration of ethanol vapors caused a decrease of average intensity for most of the selected volatiles. In contrast, a significant amplifying effect of ethanol on panel intensity was observed in the target-oriented design for most of the compounds. This observation was confirmed with an independent panel. The proposed modification of a standard GC-O procedure could remarkably enhance the performance of GC-O studies oriented on a few target chemicals.
Petka
Ján
J
Akras Flavours, Industriezentrum NO Süd, Wiener Neudorf, Austria. petkajan@unizar.es
Escudero
Ana
A
Sádecká
Jana
J
Kukurová
Kristína
K
Ferreira
Vicente
V
D000328:Adult; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D055696:Olfactory Perception; D012903:Smell; D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water
D012996:Solutions; D014867:Water; D000431:Ethanol