Identification of aroma active compounds in cardboard using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) coupled with GC-MS and GC-Olfactometry

A rapid method using Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME) was developed for the identification and determination of odour active compounds in cardboard samples. Several fibers were tested under different conditions (time, temperature) in order to optimize the sensitivity of the method. Finally, a 75 mum Carboxen fiber was selected for the enrichment of the volatile fraction. The fiber was exposed to the headspace of the cardboard sample for 50 minutes at 50degreesC. The compounds were identified using GC-MS and a retention index database. The odour active compounds were additionally identified by gas chromatography coupled to a sniffing port (GC-Olfactometry). Several aroma active compounds, mainly saturated and unsaturated aldehydes could be identified using this method.