Solid-phase microextraction Arrow combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the elucidation of the volatile composition of honey samples

Characterization of Volatile Compounds in Mozzarella Cheeses Made from Bovine and Buffalo Milk by SPME-GC×GC-O-TOFMS, SPME-Arrow-GC-MS and GC-IMS

High moisture Mozzarella cheese is particularly popular because of its freshness and milky flavor, however the difference in aroma compound composition between high moisture Mozzarella cheese made from bovine (BOC) and buffalo milk (BUC) remains unclear. Herein, the volatile compounds of 2 kinds of Mozzarella cheese were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed by SPME-GC × GC-O-TOFMS, SPME-Arrow-GC-MS and GC-IMS for the first time. A total of 139 volatile compounds were identified (69 aroma active compounds were sniffed), of which 106 were identified in BOC and 96 in BUC. About 70.5% of these compounds can be identified by GC × GC-O-TOFMS, exceeding 2.6 times that of GC-IMS. Particularly, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-one (nutty flavor, odor intensity in 3) and methoxy-phenyl-oxime (burnt flavor, 689.47 ± 48.32 μg/kg, odor intensity in 5) were identified as aroma active compounds in BOC for the first time. The sensory evaluation confirmed that 2-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-one is one of the factors responsible for the differences in nutty flavor observed between BOC and BUC. Compared with the 3 aroma extract techniques (SPME, SPME-Arrow and headspace), SPME-Arrow can increase the adsorption capacity of volatile compounds in samples, but required the high separation and high sensitivity detection equipment for more efficient identification of volatile compounds. The combination of the GC × GC-O-TOFMS, GC-MS, and GC-IMS had obtained a comprehensive aroma profile of Mozzarella cheese, which laid a theoretical foundation for the construction of aroma fingerprints of Mozzarella cheeses from different milk sources, and provided a basis for the development and application of new dairy products.

Mass Spectrometry Characterization of Honeydew Honey: A Critical Review

Honeydew honey is produced by bees (Apis mellifera) foraging and collecting secretions produced by certain types of aphids on various parts of plants. In addition to exhibiting organoleptic characteristics that distinguish them from nectar honey, these honeys are known for their functional properties, such as strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Despite their importance, they remain poorly characterized in comparison with flower honeys, as most studies on this subject are not only carried out on too few samples but also still focused on traditional chemical-physical parameters, such as specific rotation, major sugars, or melissopalynological information. Since mass spectrometry has consistently been a primary tool for the characterization and authentication of honeys, this review will focus on the application of these methods to the characterization of the minor fraction of honeydew honey. More specifically, this review will attempt to highlight what progress has been made so far in identifying markers of the authenticity of the botanical and/or geographical origin of honeydew honeys by mass spectrometry-based approaches. Furthermore, strategies devoted to the determination of contaminants and toxins in honeydew honeys will be addressed. Such analyses represent a valuable tool for establishing the level of food safety associated with these products. A critical analysis of the presented studies will identify their limitations and critical issues, thereby describing the current state of research on the topic.

Uncovering the secrets of agarwood aroma according to regions and grades using a comprehensive analytical strategy

Agarwood holds significant importance as a valuable resource for aromatic purposes, however, key components responsible for aroma and the differences between regions and grades remain to be deeply elucidated. Thus, the odors of agarwood sourced from typical zones, as well as the renowned Kynam agarwood, were analyzed by HS-SPME Arrow GC-MS in SCAN and MRM modes. The integrated strategy proposed herein exploits the respective advantages of non-targeted and targeted analysis. In addition to a total of 55 volatile components identified from the NIST database, 114 odor components were matched according to the Smart Aroma Database, and a series of differential compounds was also unearthed and quantified.