Investigating the impact of lipid molecules and heat transfer on aroma compound formation and binding in roasted chicken skin: A UHPLC-HRMS and GC-O-MS study.

The UHPLCHRMS and Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry-Mass Spectrometry (GC-O-MS) techniques were applied to investigate effects of lipid molecules and heat transfer on the generation of aroma compounds in roasted chicken skin. Nineteen odorants were identified as most important aroma contributors based on odor activity values (OAVs) exceeding 1. Lipidomic analysis identified 3926 lipids in the samples, in which triglycerides (TG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and ceramide (Cer) had a contribution of 20.63%, 12.46%, 11.95%, and 11.39%, respectively. Furthermore, it was observed that PS(18:3e_22:5) and TG(18:0_18:1_18:1) serve as significant chemical markers for distinguishing chicken skin during the roasting (p < 0.05). TGs, notably TG(16:1_18:1_18:2) and TG(18:1_18:2_18:2), were postulated as key retainers for binding crucial aroma compounds. Meanwhile, PC, PE, and Cer played pivotal roles in aroma compound formation. Additionally, higher thermal conductivity and reduced thermal diffusivity significantly contributed to the formation of key odorants.

Identification of the key aroma compounds in flaxseed milk using stir bar sorptive extraction, aroma recombination, and omission tests.

Flaxseed milk is a plant-based dairy alternative that is rich in nutrients. Due to the low concentration of odor compounds in flaxseed milk, it cannot be completely extracted. This poses significant challenges for analysis. Therefore, this study developed a method suitable for extracting volatile compounds from flaxseed milk and compared it with three other extraction methods. It was found that Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction had the best extraction performance, identifying 39 odorants. Flavor dilution factors ranged from 1 to 512, with higher values observed for esters. 13 key odor compounds were identified (odor activity value > 1) using the external standard method for quantification; these included four aldehydes, three pyrazines, two alcohols, two esters, and two other compounds. Pyrazine compounds exhibited the highest concentrations. Aroma recombination and omission experiments showed that nine key odorants contributed significantly to the flavor profile of flaxseed milk, imparting aroma of cucumber, green, mushroom, fruity, sweet, and coconut.

Characterization of odor profiles of pea milk varieties and identification of key odor-active compounds by molecular sensory science approaches using soybean milk as a reference.

This study investigated the odor profiles of four pea milk varieties based on sensory evaluation, electronic nose (E-nose), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with soybean milk as a reference. Compared to soybean milk, pea milk exhibited lower intensity of beany, oil-oxidation, and mushroom flavors as well as higher intensity of grassy/green and earthy flavors. ZW.6 pea milk was selected for further identification of key odor-active compounds using molecular sensory science approaches. Using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME), solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE), and dynamic headspace sampling (DHS) combined with comprehensive gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC × GC-O-MS), 102 odor-active compounds were detected in ZW.6 pea milk. Among these, 19 compounds exhibiting high flavor dilution (FD) factors were accurately quantitated. Ten key odor-active compounds were ultimately identified through aroma recombination and omission experiment. Aldehydes and alcohols significantly contribute to the odor profile of pea milk.

Development of the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based aroma designer capable of modifying volatile chemical compositions in complex odors.

Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used to produce various commercial products with aromas mimicking natural products. The VOCs responsible for aromas have been identified from many natural products. The current major strategy is to analyze chemical compositions and aroma qualities of individual VOCs using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and GC-olfactometry. However, such analyses cannot determine whether candidate VOCs contribute to the characteristic aroma in mixtures of many VOCs. In this study, we developed a GC/MS-based VOC collection/omission system that can modify the VOC compositions of samples easily and rapidly. The system is composed of GC/MS with a switching unit that can change gas flow routes between MS and a VOC collection device. We first applied this system to prepare gas samples for omission tests, and the aroma qualities of VOC mixtures with and without some VOCs were evaluated by panelists. If aroma qualities were different between the 2 samples, the omitted VOCs were likely key odorants. By collecting VOCs in a gas bag attached to the collection device and transferring some VOCs to MS, specific VOCs could be omitted easily from the VOC mixture. The system could prepare omission samples without chemical identification, preparation of each VOC, and laborious techniques for mixing VOCs, thus overcoming the limitations of previous methods of sample preparation. Finally, the system was used to prepare artificial aromas by replacing VOC compositions between different samples for screening of key odorants. In conclusion, the system developed here can improve aroma research by identifying key odorants from natural products.

Revealing the characteristic aroma and boundary compositions of five pig breeds based on HS-SPME/GC-O-MS, aroma recombination and omission experiments.

To clarify the characteristic aroma compounds and flavor discrepancies of five Chinese typical pig species, headspace-solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-O-MS), electronic nose (E-nose), aroma recombination and omission experiments were used to analyze the characteristic aroma and boundary of five boiled pork. A total of 38 volatile compounds were identified, of which 14 were identified as important odorants with odor-activity values (OAVs) greater than 1. Aroma recombination and omission experiments revealed 8 key characteristic aroma compounds, which significantly contributed to the overall aroma. Sensory evaluation of the recombination model with the 8 aroma compounds scored 3.0 to 4.0 out of 5 points. 12 potential markers were identified to distinguish by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), including (E)-2-octenal, 3-ethyl-2-methyl-1,3-hexadiene, (E)-2-heptenal, 2-pentylfuran, cyclooctanol, 1-heptanol, sec-butylamine, D-limonene, N-vinylformamide, 2,3-octanedione, 2-ethylfuran and 3-pentanamine. Alongside benzaldehyde and pentanal, the combinations and fluctuations of these 14 aroma markers were proposed to constitute the aroma boundaries of different pork breeds. The aroma-active substances were able to effectively differentiate different breeds.

Characterization of key aroma compounds in soy sauce flavor baijiu by molecular sensory science combined with aroma active compounds reverse verification method.

The distinctive flavor profile of soy sauce flavor baijiu (SAB) is shaped by its unique aroma compounds. The characteristic aroma compounds in Langjiu soy sauce flavor baijiu (LSAB) were explored based on molecular sensory science. A total of 66 aroma active compounds were identified by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) combined with aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), and 6 important unknown sulfur compounds were identified using the aroma active compounds reverse verification method (ACRVW). A total of 39 key aroma compounds were determined to have odor activity values (OAVs) ≥ 1. The aroma contribution of aroma components was verified by aroma recombination and aroma omission experiments. 15 characteristic aroma compounds were identified in LSAB. Meanwhile, a simple and easy-to-understand sensory expression language was described to fully understand the style characteristics of LSAB. Overall, the present paper offers insights into research uncovering the key "sauce flavor" of soy sauce flavor baijiu.

Molecular descriptors of icewine odorants: A first insight into their relationship with metabolism and olfactory perception.

To investigate the differences in physicochemical parameters of compounds that are metabolized from different precursors and contribute to the aroma perception of icewine, odor-active compounds in icewine were identified by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) analysis combined with comprehensive two-dimensional GC and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC  × â€¯GC-TOFMS) analysis, and the molecular descriptors of these odor-active compounds were calculated by computational chemistry software. The distribution pattern of these odorants classified by their precursors and their olfactory perception was visualized on the basis of their molecular descriptor differences. The results showed that the odorants sourced from different precursors could be clearly separated from each other based on their molecular descriptors, which belonged to blocks such as constitution indices and 2D matrix-based descriptors. The results also showed that honey and cooked potatoe descriptions or peach and smoke descriptions have quite different molecular descriptors. This study should contribute to future research that relates to computational chemistry-based aroma perception and prediction in fermented beverages. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results obtained from this study may be useful for the construction of a classification system of various odor-active compounds in a given product and may provide a molecular solution for the determination of different perceptual dimensions of an odor mixture.

Analysis of composition and source of the key aroma compounds in stir-fried pepper tallow.

Stir-fried pepper tallow is widely used in cooking due to its special flavor, particularly in hot-pot dishes. However, the composition and source of the key aroma compounds in stir-fried pepper tallow are poorly understood, resulting in uneven quality. Here, the key aroma compounds were screened using flavor dilution factors (FD) and odor activity values (OAVs). A total of 41 odorants compounds were identified. Of these, 20 compounds with FD ≥ 8 were aroma-active compounds. Furthermore, among these 20 compounds, 15 with OAVs ≥ 1were the key aroma-active compounds and most of these (13 out of 15 odorants) were produced from pepper. Glycosides in pepper are the precursors of the most of these key aroma compounds. It may be possible to improve the flavor quality of stir-fried pepper tallow by hydrolyzing glycosides. These findings should help to establish a standard to assess and improve the quality of stir-fried pepper tallow.

Characterization of Key Odorants in Chinese Texiang Aroma and Flavor Type Baijiu (Chinese Liquor) by Means of a Molecular Sensory Science Approach.

The popularity of texiang aroma type baijiu (liquor), known for its unique production technology and multilayered flavor, has been steadily increasing among consumers. So far, no research has determined its key aroma compounds for characterizing the unique flavor, which is the purpose of this paper. Using gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) coupled with the GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method, 87 aroma-active compounds were identified and screened out with intensity values ≥2.0. 1,1,6-Trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN) was first confirmed by GC-O in Chinese liquor. According to a quantitative study and odor activity values (OAVs), 42 odorants were determined as important aroma compounds. These odorants were recombined based on quantitative concentrations, successfully simulating the overall aroma profile. Omission experiments verified ethyl hexanoate, ß-damascenone, and 2-furfuryl ethyl ether as the key aroma compounds and revealed that ethyl acetate, furfural, and ethyl 2-phenylacetate were important aroma compounds to the overall flavor of texiang aroma and flavor type liquor.

Effects of gallic acid on the release of aroma compounds in Moutai Baijiu.

Due to the trace concentrations of gallic acid (GA), the interaction mechanism between GA and flavor compounds is limited, and the effects on the aroma compounds of Moutai Baijiu are even more unclear. In this study, the aroma compounds and phenolic compounds in Moutai Baijiu were investigated by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A total of 63 volatiles and 10 phenolic compounds were identified, and 16 esters and 4 alcohols were identified as the important aroma substances (odor activity values ≥1). The effect of GA on the release of aroma compounds was investigated by sensory analysis and partition coefficient. The results showed that GA mainly inhibited the volatilization of alcohols, low concentrations of GA promoted the release of esters, and high concentrations slowed down or even inhibited the release effect affected by the hydrophobicity of aroma compounds. UV spectroscopy and thermodynamic analysis further revealed that the interaction of GA with 1-propanol was attributed mainly to hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces, and the interaction with other compounds was mainly influenced by hydrophobic effects. These results show that gallic acid can effectively control the release of the aromas of Moutai Baijiu, highlight the important role of GA on the volatiles of baijiu, and provide theoretical support for further healthy improvement of the sensory quality of baijiu.

Characterization of the odor compounds in human milk by DHS/GC × GC-O-MS: A feasible and efficient method.

Odor analysis of human milk (HM) is often challenging. Here, a new strategy for the analysis of odorants in HM using dynamic headspace sampling combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (DHS/GC × GC-O-MS) was established based on the comparison of different extraction methods and instrument modes. Overall, DHS/GC × GC-O-MS was proved to be able to provide higher extraction efficiency and better analytical results of the odor-active compounds (OACs) in HM, meanwhile, the salt addition during the extraction further promoted the release of the odorants. Twenty key OACs in HM were identified by flavor dilution analysis and odor activity calculation, of which 1-octen-3-one, 2,3-butanedione, (E)-2-nonenal, and nonanal contributed significantly to the odor of HM. In addition, 2,3-pentanedione was detected as a key OAC in HM for the first time. This study provided a powerful analytical strategy for the comprehensive odor analysis of HM.

Comparative flavor precursors and volatile compounds of Wenchang chickens fed with copra meal based on GC-O-MS.

In the Wenchang chicken (WC) feeding process, copra meal is often added to improve chicken quality. To determine the effect of feeding with copra meal on the flavor formation of WCs, the experimental subjects were fed with 4.5 % and 7.5 % copra meal, and the control group was fed without copra meal. The electronic nose combined with gas chromatography-olfactometry mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS) was used to identify the volatile compounds from the samples. Compared with the control group, the pH of chickens fed copra meal was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) after slaughter. Aldehydes and alcohols were the main volatile compounds in muscle, among which hexanal and 1-octen-3-ol were the highest. Thirty-two and thirty-six compounds were identified in breast muscle and drumstick muscle, respectively. Twelve new volatile compounds were added, including 1-octanol, butanal, 1-heptanol, 3-ethylbenzaldehyde, 2,2-dimethylpentanal, hexanoic acid, 3-heptanone, 2,5-heptanedione, 2-ethylfuran, 2-propylfuran, 2-ethynylpyridine, and 1,2,4,5-tetrazine. The types and contents of volatile compounds in drumstick muscle increased with an increasing proportion of copra meal in the diet. In summary, the addition of copra meal changed the quality of WCs and increased the types and contents of volatile compounds. This study provides a reference for understanding the flavor profile of WC fed copra meal.

Unraveling the source-water fishy odor occurrence during low-temperature periods: Odorants identification, typical algae species and odor-producing potential.

In this study, odor characteristics and phytoplankton composition were systematically investigated in two winter periods in a reservoir with fishy odor in north China. Ten potential fishy odor-producing algae were isolated and odorant-producing potentials were evaluated. Olfactometry profile and odorant composition of water samples were analyzed using GC-Olfactometry combined with GC × GC-TOFMS. The results showed that 2,4-heptadienal and hexanal were major fishy odor contributors. The abundance of Uroglena sp., Synura sp. and Peridinium sp. was negatively correlated with total dissolved organic carbon, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate, illustrating nutrient level might be major drivers for the succession of fishy odor-producing algae. Dinobryon sp. and Uroglena sp. made the greatest contribution to fishy odor, followed by Peridinium sp., Synura sp., and Ochromonas sp. Fishy odor in 2016 winter and the early of 2017 winter was mainly caused by Dinobryon sp., while Uroglena sp. contributes mostly in March in 2017 winter. This study demonstrates the main odorants and algae causing fishy odor in reservoir, which will provide a scientific basis for the management of seasonal fishy odor problems in water source.

Evaluation of the Chemosensoric Properties of Commercially Available Dog Foods Using Electronic Sensors and GC-MS/O Analysis.

Pet owners think of their animals as part of their family, which further promotes the growth of the pet food market, encouraging pet owners to select nutritious, palatable, and high-quality foods for pets. Therefore, the evaluation of taste and volatile compounds in pet foods is essential to improve palatability. In this study, the sensory characteristics of taste and odor compounds in 10 commercially available dry dog foods were investigated using electronic tongue (E-tongue), electronic nose (E-nose), gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O). Dry dog foods were separated based on the sensory properties of taste and volatile compounds through the multivariate analysis of integrated results of the E-tongue and E-nose. A total of 67 odor active compounds were detected through GC-MS and GC-O, and octanal, nonanal, 2-pentyl furan, heptanal, and benzaldehyde were identified as key odor compounds which may have positive effects on food intake. The multivariate analysis was used to classify samples based on key odor compounds. Volatile compounds responsible for aroma properties of samples were evaluated using GC-O and multivariate analysis in this present study for the first time. These results are expected to provide fundamental data for sensory evaluation in producing new dog foods with improved palatability.

Comparison of aroma properties of infant formulas: Differences in key aroma compounds and their possible origins in processing.

Aroma is an important attribute of infant formula (IF). In this study, 218 volatiles and 62 odor-active compounds were detected from IF by dynamic headspace sampling combined with comprehensive 2-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry. Aldehydes and ketones were determined as the most abundant odor-active compounds. Among them, the contents of pentanal and hexanal were the most abundant, while 1-octen-3-one had the highest flavor dilution factor and odor activity value in most of the IF. Sensory evaluation and electronic nose analysis showed that the skimming process, the fatty acid composition, and powdered or liquid milk base used for the production of IF may be important factors resulting in their differences in aroma profiles and compounds. These differences were assumed to be mainly ascribed to the Maillard reaction and lipid oxidation, which were largely influenced by the temperature and water activity.

Characterization of key aroma-active compounds in blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries by sensory-directed analysis.

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) berries are nutritionally rich and unique in flavor. However, its aroma compounds have not been known well. In this study, the key aroma-active compounds in 8 different varieties of blue honeysuckle berries were studied by sensory-directed analysis. Sensory evaluation suggested that the aroma profile of blue honeysuckle berry was fruity, floral, grassy, sweet, and sour. A total of 68 aroma compounds were detected by two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry analysis (GC × GC-O-MS). Then, aroma extraction dilution analysis (AEDA) and odor activity value (OAV) showed that 12 compounds were indicated to be the major aroma contributors. According to the principal component analysis (PCA) results, eight varieties were divided into three categories for their differences on alcohols and terpenoids content. Finally, the aroma recombination and omission experiments determined that linalool, hexanal, eucalyptol, octanal, nonanal, and ethyl 2-methylbutyrate were the key aroma-active compounds in blue honeysuckle berries.

Investigation on the key factors associated with flavor quality in northern strong aroma type of Baijiu by flavor matrix.

The strong aroma type of Baijiu is popular with its balanced flavor. However, the flavor characteristics of strong aroma type of Baijiu in different regions have significant diversities. Among them, the key aroma compounds in northern strong aroma type of Baijiu and the factors affecting the aroma profile and flavor quality are still unclear. In this study, a total of 78 aroma compounds were identified by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-O-MS). The quantitative analysis was completed and ethyl hexanoate (1003.24-4506.04 mg/L) was the highest. Aroma profile was successfully simulated by reconstitution, and omission test was applied to investigate the effects of the important aroma compounds on the aroma profile. Additionally, the relationship between expression of aroma compounds and sensory characteristics of samples was illustrated by flavor matrix. The overall aroma profile of northern strong aroma type of Baijiu was formed by the key aroma compounds with different aroma expression.

Identification of muttony-related compounds in cooked mutton tallows and their flavor intensities subjected to phenolic extract from thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.).

Mutton possesses a typical flavor, known as "muttony" or "goaty", which significantly limits consumers' acceptability and its further popularization. Generally, this unpleasant flavor originates from mutton tallow. Thus, we first characterized the key volatiles of the cooked mutton tallow (CMT) via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/olfactometry (GC-MS/O) and odor activity value (OAV). Combined with aroma recombination and omission tests, eleven compounds, involving 4-methyloctanoic acid, 4-methynonanoic acid, octanoic acid, decanoic acid, hexanal, heptanal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal, (E)-2-decenal, 2-nonanone and 2-penty-furan, were screened out to be responsible for the "muttony" flavor. The objective of this study was to investigate the sensory property and acceptability of CMTs, elaborated with 4 different levels of thyme phenolic extract (TPE), through descriptive sensory analysis and key muttony-related compounds identification. The results showed that, of different TPEs employed, CMT plus TPE3 was the most effective strategy to control the key "muttony" contributors, thereby to improve flavor profile of CMT.

The characteristic of the key aroma-active components in white tea using GC-TOF-MS and GC-olfactometry combined with sensory-directed flavor analysis.

BACKGROUND: White tea has become more and more popular with consumers due to its health benefits and unique flavor. However, the key aroma-active compounds of white tea during the aging process are still unclear. Thus, the key aroma-active compounds of white tea during the aging process were investigated using gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC-TOF-MS) and gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) combined with sensory-directed flavor analysis. RESULTS: A total of 127 volatile compounds were identified from white tea samples with different aging years by GC-TOF-MS. Fifty-eight aroma-active compounds were then determined by GC-O, and 19 of them were further selected as the key aroma-active compounds based on modified frequency (MF) and odor activity value (OAV). CONCLUSION: Aroma recombination and omission testing confirmed that 1-octen-3-ol, linalool, phenethyl alcohol, geraniol, (E)-ß-ionone, α-ionone, hexanal, phenylacetaldehyde, nonanal, (E, Z)-(2,6)-nonadienal, safranal, γ-nonalactone and 2-amylfuran were the common key aroma-active compounds to all samples. Cedrol, linalool oxide II and methyl salicylate were confirmed peculiar in new white tea, while ß-damascenone and jasmone were peculiar in aged white tea. This work will offer support for further studies on the material basis of flavor formation of white tea. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Combined Effect of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Galactomyces geotrichum Fermentation on the Aroma Composition of Sour Whey.

The increase in demand for food flavorings due to the shortening and simplification of food production technology also entails an increase in the demand for new technologies for their production. The biotechnological production of aromas is a solution characterized by a high efficiency, an independence from environmental factors and a relatively low cost. In this study, the influence of the implementation of lactic acid bacteria pre-fermentation into the production of aroma compounds by Galactomyces geotrichum on a sour whey medium on the intensity of the obtained aroma composition was analyzed. The monitoring of the culture in terms of biomass buildup, the concentration of selected compounds, and the pH resulted in the confirmation of interactions between the analyzed microorganisms. The post-fermentation product underwent a comprehensive sensomic analysis for the identification and quantification of the aroma-active compounds. The use of gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O) analysis and the calculation of odor activity values (OAVs) allowed 12 key odorants to be identified in the post-fermentation product. The highest OAV was found for phenylacetaldehyde with a honey odor (1815). The following compounds with the highest OAVs were 2,3-butanedione with a buttery aroma (233), phenylacetic acid with a honey aroma (197), 2,3-butanediol with a buttery aroma (103), 2-phenylethanol with a rosy aroma (39), ethyl octanoate with a fruity aroma (15), and ethyl hexanoate with a fruity aroma (14).