title: Applicability of PTR-MS in the quality control of saffron.
abstract: The applicability of the emerging non-destructive technique, proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS), was explored for the first time in the quality control of saffron. Monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was achieved using a minute sample (35 mg). Fresh saffron was stored under selected conditions (25 and 40 °C, aw=0.64) over a five weeks period to produce lower quality material, which was used to prepare mixtures with fresh saffron. Analysis showed that the VOCs fingerprint changed upon storage, and the concentration of initially dominant VOC safranal decreased progressively. Examination of calculated and recorded fingerprints for various admixtures showed that PTR-MS VOCs analysis, in combination with chemometrics, could be used to screen for the presence of lower quality saffron in a commercial product in a few minutes. The technique can be used in a complementary fashion, adding to the battery of advanced analytical techniques available to address the quality and authenticity issues of saffron.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Chemistry & Technology (LFCT), School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: niknen@chem.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nenadis
authors.affiliation: RIKILT, Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Samuel.Heenan@effem.com.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heenan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Food Chemistry & Technology (LFCT), School of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: tsimidou@chem.auth.gr.
authors.forename: Maria Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Tsimidou
authors.affiliation: RIKILT, Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 230, 6700 AE Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: saskia.vanruth@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Ruth
mesh_terms: D027622:Crocus / Q000737:chemistry*; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D011522:Protons; D011786:Quality Control; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D053138:Cyclohexenes; D011522:Protons; D013729:Terpenes; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; C087963:safranal
keywords: Adulteration; Bulk saffron adulterants; PTR-MS; Saffron; Saffron volatiles; Safranal