Etienne Sémon

Heat treatment of vegetable oils. II. GC-MS and GC-FTIR spectra of some isolated cyclic fatty acid monomers

Gas liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that the cyclic fatty acid monomers (CFAM) isolated from a heated linseed oil have two ethylenic bonds, while the CFAM isolated from heated sunflower oils were saturated and monoethylenic isomers. GC-MS studies also showed the presence of cyclohexenic derivatives in the case of linseed oil.GLC coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (GC-FTIR) studies indicated that the CFAM isolated from linseed oil were ofcis (Z),trans (E) structures except two components which werecis,cis (Z,Z) dienoic acids. The unsaturated CFAM isolated from sunflower oils werecis (Z) andtrans (E) monoethylenic isomers. For sunflower oils, the major CFAM were isomers having acis (Z) ethylenic bond. The saturated CFAM isolated from a heated sunflower oil had molecular weights of 296 and 294. The latter could correspond to some bicyclic isomers.

Comparison of direct mass spectrometry methods for the on-line analysis of volatile compounds in foods.

For the on-line monitoring of flavour compound release, atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) and proton transfer reaction (PTR) combined to mass spectrometry (MS) are the most often used ionization technologies. APCI-MS was questioned for the quantification of volatiles in complex mixtures, but direct comparisons of APCI and PTR techniques applied on the same samples remain scarce. The aim of this work was to compare the potentialities of both techniques for the study of in vitro and in vivo flavour release. Aroma release from flavoured aqueous solutions (in vitro measurements in Teflon bags and glass vials) or flavoured candies (in vivo measurements on six panellists) was studied using APCI- and PTR-MS. Very similar results were obtained with both techniques. Their sensitivities, expressed as limit of detection of 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, were found equivalent at 12u2009ng/l air. Analyses of Teflon bag headspace revealed a poor repeatability and important ionization competitions with both APCI- and PTR-MS, particularly between an ester and a secondary alcohol. These phenomena were attributed to dependency on moisture content, gas/liquid volume ratio, proton affinities and product ion distribution, together with inherent drawbacks of Teflon bags (adsorption, condensation of water and polar molecules). Concerning the analyses of vial headspace and in vivo analyses, similar results were obtained with both techniques, revealing no competition phenomena. This study highlighted the equivalent performances of APCI-MS and PTR-MS for in vitro and in vivo flavour release investigations and provided useful data on the problematic use of sample bags for headspace analyses.

Modified proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) operating conditions for in vitro and in vivo analysis of wine aroma

With proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry standard operating conditions, analysis of alcoholic beverages is an analytical challenge. Ethanol reacts with the primary ion H3 O+ leading to its depletion and to formation of ethanol-related ions and clusters, resulting in unstable ionization and in significant fragmentation of analytes. Different methods were proposed but generally resulted in lowering the sensitivity and/or complicating the mass spectra. The aim of the present study was to propose a simple, sensitive, and reliable method with fragmentation as low as possible, linearity within a realistic range of volatile organic compounds concentrations, and applicability to in vivo dynamic aroma release (nosespace) studies of wines. For in vitro analyses, a reference flask containing a hydro-alcoholic solution (10% ethanol) was permanently connected to the PTR-MS inlet in order to establish ethanol chemical ionization conditions. A low electric field strength to number density ratio E/N (80 Td) was used in the drift-tube. A stable reagent ion distribution was obtained with the primary protonated ethanol ion C2 H5 OH2+ accounting for more than 80% of the ionized species. The ethanol dimer (C2 H5 OH)2 H+ accounted for only 10%. Fragmentation of some aroma molecules important for white wine flavor (various esters, linalool, cis-rose oxide, 2-methylpropan-1-ol, 3-methylbutan-1-ol, and 2-phenylethanol) was studied from same ethanol content solutions connected alternatively with the reference solution to the instrument inlet. Linear dynamic range and limit of detection (LOD) were determined for ethyl hexanoate. Fragmentation of the protonated analytes was limited to a few ions of low intensity, or to specific fragment ions with no further fragmentation. Association and/or ligand switching reactions from ethanol clusters were only significant for the primary alcohols. Interpretation of the mass spectra was straightforward with easy detection of diagnostic ions. These results made this ethanol ionization method suitable for direct headspace analyses of model wines and to their nosespace analyses.

Understanding the dynamic of flavor compounds release during food mastication of cheese products in relation to perception

This chapter proposed an integrated approach to better understand the role of cheese composition, physiological parameters, and individual chewing behavior on aroma release and perception. Product effect (six cheeses) was more important than subject effect (14 healthy consumers). Differences were observed according to the hydrophobic properties of aroma compounds. More ethyl propanoate and less nonan-2-one (more hydrophobic compound) were released from cheeses with higher fat levels, and more of these two aroma compounds were released from firmer cheeses compared to softer cheeses. For nonan-2-one, the amount of aroma released could not explain the perception due to fat-aroma sensory interactions.