Identification of Key Odorants in Used Disposable Absorbent Incontinence Products.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify key odorants in used disposable absorbent incontinence products.


METHODS
Descriptive in vitro study SUBJECTS AND SETTING:: Samples of used incontinence products were collected from 8 residents with urinary incontinence living in geriatric nursing homes in the Gothenburg area of Sweden. Products were chosen from a larger set of products that had previously been characterized by descriptive odor analysis.


METHODS
Pieces of the used incontinence products were cut from the wet area, placed in glass bottles, and kept frozen until dynamic headspace sampling of volatile compounds was completed. Gas chromatography-olfactometry was used to identify which compounds contributed most to the odors in the samples. Compounds were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight volatiles were found to be key odorants in the used incontinence products. Twenty-six were successfully identified. They belonged to the following classes of chemical compounds: aldehydes (6); amines (1); aromatics (3); isothiocyanates (1); heterocyclics (2); ketones (6); sulfur compounds (6); and terpenes (1).


CONCLUSIONS
Nine of the 28 key odorants were considered to be of particular importance to the odor of the used incontinence products: 3-methylbutanal, trimethylamine, cresol, guaiacol, 4,5-dimethylthiazole-S-oxide, diacetyl, dimethyl trisulfide, 5-methylthio-4-penten-2-ol, and an unidentified compound.
Gunnar Hall, PhD, Sensory and Flavor Science, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden, Food and Bioscience, Gothenburg, Sweden. Susanne Alenljung, MSc, Hygiene and Odor, SCA Hygiene Products AB, Gothenburg, Sweden. Ulla Forsgren-Brusk, MSc, Hygiene and Odor, SCA Hygiene Products AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gunnar
G
Hall
Susanne
S
Alenljung
Ulla
U
Forsgren-Brusk
D041342:Absorbent Pads / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016496:Incontinence Pads / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009812:Odorants / Q000032:analysis*; D064367:Olfactometry / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000451:nursing; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry*