Mixture Of Compounds Research Articles

The beneficial effects of the tobacco hydroperoxide lyase pathway in whitefly host adaptation

Plants respond to herbivore attack by emitting complex mixtures of volatile compounds to repel herbivores or attract predators and parasitoids. In this study, however, we revealed that tobacco green leaf volatiles (GLVs) were beneficial compounds for whitefly adaptation to host plants. Our study indicates that GLVs are closely associated with plant susceptibility to whiteflies. Whitefly infestation elevated the transcript of the hydroperoxide lyase (HPL) gene, one gene responsible for catalyzing the synthesis of C6 or C9 aldehydes from fatty acid hydroperoxides. Overexpression of HPL increased the emission of GLVs (hexanal, 1- hexanal, trans-2- hexanal and cis-3- hexanal) and resulted in improved performance for whiteflies. Exogenous application of GLVs promoted whitefly survival and fecundity and increased the plant's attraction to whiteflies. Thus, our study provides new insights into the role of the HPL pathway and GLVs in influencing herbivore adaptation to host plants.

A Comprehensive Review on Kumkumadi Thaila

Kumkumadi Thaila is a popular classical Sneha preparation indicated for external as well for Nasya purpose. It is mentioned in Kshudra Roga chikitsa but on general practice used for cosmetic purposes especially for hyperpigmentation. Cosmetics are mixtures of chemical compounds derived from either natural sources or synthetically created ones used to cleanse or protect body or skin. Hyperpigmentation is a condition in which skin patches became darker in colour than normal. Present study aimed to compile the available classical references regarding the ingredients of Kumkumadi Thaila to evaluate their similarity and differences. Total 14 drugs including Ajaksheera are the ingredients of this formulation based on reference of Ashtanga Hridayam. Kumkuma, Yashti Madhu and Thila Thailam are common ingredients in all reviewed Yogas. Generally, Kumkumadi Thaila is a purely herbal formulation. Some references contain the mineral drugs such as Gairika (Red Ochre – Ferric oxide (Fe2O3) and Manashila (Arsenic disulphide (As2S3)) as ingredients. The animal products such as Gorochana and Madhucchista are also there according to some references.

Hygienic study and forecast of atmospheric air pollution with sulfur compounds in the areas of sulfide-containing tailings

This article is devoted to the topical problem of the release into the atmosphere of mixtures of sulfur compounds from decommissioned facilities for the disposal of waste from the processing of sulfide ores of non-ferrous and noble metals. The purpose of the research was a hygienic study and forecast of atmospheric air pollution by volatile sulfur compounds emitted by decommissioned waste disposal facilities for processing sulfide ores of non-ferrous and precious metals, for information support of the system of medical and preventive technologies in mining regions. The objects of the study were two decommissioned tailing dumps of enterprises for the processing of gold ores. The assessment of the actual pollution of the surface layer of the atmosphere with dimethyl sulfide, dimethyl sulfoxide, carbon disulfide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide was carried out according to under-flare observations. Non-linear models given by second and third order polynomials were used to predict pollution levels. A theoretical analysis of the in ‑ formation presented in the scientific literature on the interaction of structural elements of natural and technical systems that make up the mechanism of atmospheric pollution at the post-operational stage of mining technogenesis has been carried out. Based on a systematic analysis of under-flare observations conducted in the areas of location of two tailings of gold ore production, lists of priority sulfur compounds to be controlled, distinctive features of zonal atmospheric pollution for different forms of terrain adjacent to the sources were identified, non-linear models of the distribution of concentrations of priority pollutants in the surface were constructed. layer of the atmosphere, allowing a probabilistic quantitative assessment of pollution halos and inhalation risks to public health. The scientific information obtained as a result of a comprehensive study is intended for information support of the system of medical and preventive technologies in mining regions.

Essential Oil Molecules Can Break the Loop of Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Essential oils (EOs) are mixtures of volatile compounds, extracted from aromatic plants, with multiple activities including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ones. EOs are complex mixtures easy to find on the market and with low costs. In this mini narrative review, we have collected the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, which tested these EOs on validated models of neurodegeneration and in particular of the two main neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) that afflict humans: Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Since EO compositions can vary greatly, depending on the environmental conditions, plant cultivar, and extraction methods, we focused our attention to studies involving single EO molecules, and in particular those that have demonstrated the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. These single EO molecules, alone or in defined mixtures, could be interesting new therapies to prevent or slow down oxidative and inflammatory processes which are common mechanisms that contribute to neuronal death in all NDs.

First Proteome Analysis of Poplar-Type Propolis.

Propolis is a natural mixture of honeybee-released and plant-derived compounds produced by honeybees. Poplar propolis is rich in bioactive polyphenolic compounds, and due to its many health benefits, it is commonly used as a food supplement or functional food ingredient. However, it is the only honeybee product whose proteome hasn't been analyzed. Here, we report a first proteome analysis of poplar-type propolis, a challenging glue-type resinous sample for protein characterization. Raw propolis mixture was precipitated with cold acetone to obtain the protein fraction. Proteins were digested with trypsin, and generated peptides were analyzed on nano-ESI-qTOF SYNAPT G2-Si mass spectrometer (MS) by data-independent acquisition (DIA) and data-dependent acquisition (DDA). Identified peptides and inferred proteins suggest the presence of new bioactive molecules as components of propolis. The poplar-type propolis proteome is composed of a mixture of proteins from the Apis and Populus genera. This is the first-ever report of the proteome of any type of propolis.

Microencapsulation of Juniper and Black Pepper Essential Oil Using the Coacervation Method and Its Properties after Freeze-Drying.

Essential oils are mixtures of chemical compounds that are very susceptible to the effects of the external environment. Hence, more attention has been drawn to their preservation methods. The aim of the study was to test the possibility of using the classical model of complex coacervation for the microencapsulation of essential oils. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) and juniper (Juniperus communis) essential oils were dissolved in grape seed (GSO) and soybean (SBO) oil to minimize their loss during the process, and formed the core material. Various mixing ratios of polymers (gelatin (G), gum Arabic (GA)) were tested: 1:1; 1:2, and 2:1. The oil content was 10%, and the essential oil content was 1%. The prepared coacervates were lyophilized and then screened to obtain a powder. The following analyses were determined: encapsulation efficiency (EE), Carr index (CI), Hausner ratio (HR), solubility, hygroscopicity, moisture content, and particle size. The highest encapsulation efficiency achieved was within the range of 64.09-59.89%. The mixing ratio G/GA = 2:1 allowed us to obtain powders that were characterized by the lowest solubility (6.55-11.20%). The smallest particle sizes, which did not exceed 6 μm, characterized the powders obtained by mixing G/GA = 1:1. All powder samples were characterized by high cohesiveness and thus poor or very poor flow (CI = 30.58-50.27, HR = 1.45-2.01).

Determination and Method Optimization of Lianjie Liyan Compound Mixture

Euchresta japonica, Platycodon grandiflorum, Belamcanda chinensis, and Adenophora tetraphylla are the four medicinal substances that make up the Lianjie Liyan compound mixture, a type of compound preparation for treating throat diseases such as pharyngitis and laryngeal carcinoma. The preparation has been used clinically for a long time and has been proven that it has curative properties in terms of alleviating pain and other symptoms. However, no quality control research on this preparation has been done yet. The pharmacological components in the main quality control standards, including Oxymatrine, matrine, N-methylcytisine, platycoside-D in Platycodon grandiflorum, and irisaxanthin in Shegan, were analyzed to further standardize the clinically rational use of this preparation and prevent the occurrence of adverse reactions and side effects. In this study, the five active components in the mixture were determined concurrently for the first time with the help of Box-Behnken design and response surface approach. The properties of established model showed excellent resolution and sensitivity, good reproducibility and speed, and accurate prediction thanks to the optimization of HPLC measurement conditions. The established approach was precise and trustworthy, and it offered helpful support and references for the construction of the Lianjie Liyan compound mixture as well as for the quality control.

Influence of forest fire smoke on the decline of biodiversity and the state of living organisms (literary review)

Introduction. The relevance of this work is due to the growing environmental problem associated with large-scale forest fires and insufficient knowledge of the survival, adaptation and reproduction of animals after prolonged exposure to harmful smoke components.
 The aim of the review is to collect and analyze information on environmental pollution due to smoke from forest fires and their impact on animals in the smoke zone. 
 Material and methods. The material for the analysis was the literature sources published for the period up to 2022, in publications indexed in the Scopus, Web of Science, Publons, Springer, PubMed databases, including domestic and foreign research scientists on this topic.
 Results. When forest fires occur, a mixture of gaseous compounds is released into the environment, containing ultrafine solid particles, carbon monoxide, ozone, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrogen and sulfur dioxide, aldehydes, chlorinated dioxins, free radicals and many other compounds. At the same time, significant damage is caused to a wide biodiversity of the animal world, which is an extremely important indicator link in almost any biocenosis.
 Conclusions. The increase in large-scale smoke is increasingly leading to the risk of extinction of wildlife exposed to high concentrations of toxic components of smoke. It is necessary to constantly maintain and restore the biotic potential of populations of endangered species in forest ecosystems, as well as a deeper study of the mechanisms of the occurrence of consequences that are dangerous for the animal organism when exposed to forest fire smoke.

The power of the QUENCHER method in measuring total antioxidant capacity of foods: Importance of interactions between different forms of antioxidants

Antioxidants play a crucial role in maintaining human health by counteracting oxidative stress and regulating redox balance within the body. The mixture of various antioxidant compounds in different forms (i.e., free, bound, insoluble) in food creates a redox active environment both in the human body and in the food system. Acting as both electron donors and acceptors while interacting with each other can either result in antagonism through pro-oxidative effects, or synergism through regeneration of one antioxidant by another. During the antioxidant capacity measurement, besides the individual antioxidant effects of the antioxidant components, these effects that occur because of their interaction with each other should be also considered. Classical antioxidant capacity measurement methods mostly concentrate on the fractions of foods that can be extracted with either water, alcohol, lipid, or acid/alkaline solutions. Antioxidants that cannot be extracted with any solvent are mostly ignored in these methods. On the other hand, the QUENCHER method, which allows direct measurement of antioxidant capacity foods without extraction, offers a rational solution to the limitations of traditional extraction-based methods. This approach considers the antioxidant capacity and interactions of all antioxidant forms that can be found in a food matrix, at the same time. This review provides detailed insights into the advantages of QUENCHER as a holistic approach for the accurate measurement of the antioxidant capacity of foods.

Pros and Cons of Separation, Fractionation and Cleanup for Enhancement of the Quantitative Analysis of Bitumen-Derived Organics in Process-Affected Waters—A Review

Oil sands process-affected water (OSPW) contains a diverse mixture of inorganic and organic compounds. Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a subset of the organic naphthenic acid fraction compounds (NAFCs) and are a major contributor of toxicity to aquatic species. Thousands of unique chemical formulae are measured in OSPW by accurate mass spectrometry and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of NAFCs. As no commercial reference standard is available to cover the range of compounds present in NAFCs, quantitation may best be referred to as “semi-quantitative” and is based on the responses of one or more model compounds. Negative mode electrospray ionization (ESI-) is often used for NAFC measurement but is prone to ion suppression in complex matrices. This review discusses aspects of off-line sample preparation techniques and liquid chromatography (LC) separations to help reduce ion suppression effects and improve the comparability of both inter-laboratory and intra-laboratory results. Alternative approaches to the analytical parameters discussed include extraction solvents, salt content of samples, extraction pH, off-line sample cleanup, on-line LC chromatography, calibration standards, MS ionization modes, NAFC compound classes, MS mass resolution, and the use of internal standards.

Removal of cyclohexane vapors from air in biotrickling filters: Effects of gas mixture composition and circular economy approach

This work presents results of investigations on biotrickling filtration of air polluted with cyclohexane co-treated in binary, ternary and quaternary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) mixtures, including vapors of hexane, toluene and ethanol. The removal of cyclohexane from a gas mixture depends on the physicochemical properties of the co-treated VOCs and the lower the hydrophobicity of the VOC, the higher the removal efficiency of cyclohexane. In this work, the performance of biotrickling filters treating VOCs mixtures is discussed based on surface tension of trickling liquid for the first time. A mixed natural – synthetic packing for biotrickling filters was utilized, showing promising performance and limited maintenance requirements. Maximum elimination capacity of about 95 g/(m 3·h) of cyclohexane was reached for the total VOCs inlet loading of about 450 g/(m 3·h). This work presents also a novel approach of combining biological air treatment with management of a spent trickling liquid in the perspective of circular economy assumptions. The waste liquid phase was applied to the plant cultivation, showing a potential for e.g. enhanced production of energetic biomass or polluted soil phytoremediation.

A numerical model for the transport and drying of solutions in thin porous media — Coffee-stain effect and solute ring formation

We have developed a comprehensive numerical model for the transport and drying of solutions in thin porous media that consist of permeable fibers such as paper. We explicitly account for the gas-phase transport dynamics. Moreover, we introduce an empirical relation for the concentration- and molecular-weight dependence of the pore-fiber transport rate of the solutes. These two key elements enable us for the first time to realistically model two important phenomena relevant to inkjet printing technology. The first is the equivalent of the coffee-stain effect for dilute solutions in porous media. The second is the formation of solute rings for concentrated aqueous mixtures of compounds with a molecular weight significantly above that of water. Whereas the first is governed by spatially non-uniform solvent evaporation, the second case is dominated by solvent-mediated pore-fiber transport. We achieved a good qualitative agreement with the available experimental data.

The puzzling etiologies of transient black discoloration in Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) intensively cultured under RAS system

The aim of this study is to identify the hidden etiologies of the black chromo-shifting transient phenomenon affecting Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, farmed in RAS-controlled ponds together with the assessment of the immunological reaction against the chronic irritating effects of the invasive agent. A total of 100 Nile Tilapia were collected from a private farm at Kafrelsheikh Province, located on the northern side of the Egyptian Nile Delta. The clinical history of the affected fish farm showed an unknown chromo-shifting phenomenon where tilapias were exhibiting severe black skin coloration, which gradually disappeared after removal from the tank’s water. A comprehensive gross examination of the collected fish; including parasitological examination of skin and gill scraps, was performed. Blood biochemical testing was performed on the infested blackish O. niloticus and control non-infested fish. The current study showed that the monogenean parasite, Gyrodactylus cichlidarum, was the abundant parasite detected in the infested fish leading to abnormal black discoloration of skin and disruption of the immune system represented by significant increase of cortisol levels, lysozyme activity and different liver enzymes compared to the control. Treatment trials have been applied with moderate degrees of success, where the monogenean count was sharply decreased, and the normal skin color was remarkably restored, at the end of day 14 post-treatment. A triple treatment plan was initiated through 7 days’ application of 0.7 g/m3 copper sulfates pentahydrate preceded by 1.5 ml/m3 hydrogen peroxide 40% solution for the same period. One day after the end of the initial treatment, a maintenance dosage of 0.095 ml/m3 of glutaraldehyde (15%)/quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) mixture was administered for 3 days. As a supportive/immune-stimulant regimen, a weekly dosage of vitamin C (0.45 g g/m3) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (0.45 g/m3) was added into the tank’s water to improve the general fish health.

Investigation of the hydrogen bonded host‧‧‧guest and guest‧‧‧guest interactions present in complexes of a polyaromatic wheel-and-axle host compound with dioxane, morpholine, piperidine and pyridine

1,4-Bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)benzene (H), a host compound possessing wheel-and-axle geometry, was found to possess host ability for dioxane (DIO), morpholine (MOR) and piperidine (PIP), forming inclusion compounds with each one with 1:2 host:guest ratios. This observation prompted an investigation of the host behaviour in mixtures of these guest compounds but where pyridine (PYR) was also considered (PYR was reported earlier to also form a 1:2 complex with H). In mixtures, H demonstrated significant affinities for, more especially, MOR and PIP, while DIO and PYR were usually disfavoured guest species. Single crystal X-ray diffraction experiments revealed that MOR (a favoured guest species) interacted by means of three hydrogen bonds with both adjacent guest and host molecules, plausibly explaining the host preference for this guest species; each of DIO, PYR and PIP were involved in only one interaction of this type with H. Total energy calculations revealed that the host-guest molecular pairs involving preferred MOR and PIP possessed significantly lower energies than those with disfavoured DIO and PYR. Thermal analyses demonstrated that the complex containing the least favoured guest compound, H‧2(DIO), possessed the lowest thermal stability of the four complexes, but these experiments did not clearly explain the affinity of H for MOR.

Influence of Glow Discharge Plasma Treatment on Cashew Apple Juice’s Aroma Profile and Volatile Compounds

Cashew apple juice has a distinctive fruity aroma but contains an undesired balsamic/chemical note caused by the high concentration of styrene and other aromatic hydrocarbons. Cold plasma technology can induce chemical changes to fruit juices’ volatile compounds, improving the aroma of fruit juices. This study is aimed at evaluating the chemical effects of cold plasma on the volatile compounds and aroma of cashew apple juice, which is characterized by a complex mixture of compounds. Glow discharge plasma was applied to cashew apple juice, varying the plasma flow rate (10 to 30 mL/min) and processing time (10 to 20 min) at a constant voltage (80 kV). Plasma treatment induced several changes in the juice’s volatile compound composition, with a significant decrease in fatty acids and fatty acid esters (92%) and an increase in aldehydes (50%), alcohols (86%), and short-chain esters (21%). The primary reaction observed during plasma treatment was the internal scission of fatty acid and fatty acid esters, which formed short-chain esters and aldehydes. Further hydrogenation of aldehydes produced alcohols. The chemical changes induced by plasma treatment intensified cashew apple juice’s aroma by 28% while maintaining its aroma profile.

Study on environmental pollution behavior/fate of ammunition soil and microbial remediation of TNT and its intermediates

At present, research is lacking regarding the environmental behavior/fate of trinitrotoluene (TNT) pollutants produced by military activities and technologies for the efficient remediation of toxic byproducts. In this study, fresh explosive (TNT)-contaminated farmland soil was simulated to analyze the environmental behavior and trends of TNT using the enzyme system response, ionomers, microbial diversity, and the secondary nitrogen cycle network. Compound microbial agents were also prepared to repair soil contaminated by TNT, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT), 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene (4-ADNT), and 2,4-diamino-6-nitrotoluene (2,4-DANT). TNT significantly inhibited 23.1–63.6% of the soil nitrogen cycle-related enzymes. The soil ion network fluctuated significantly. The abundance of Sphingomonadaceae showing key tolerance/degradation TNT was significantly upregulated. Bryobacter and MND1 were important driving forces of soil community structure change. At the same time, TNT presence increased the risk of spread of soil biological diseases and unbalanced basic nucleotide, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism in the soil. The key network of the soil response to TNT was pyrimidine metabolism (biomarkers: uridine and deoxycytidine). Interestingly, soil glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the tri carboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) maintained steady-state levels despite TNT toxicity. TNT was transformed into 17 soil metabolism intermediates. In addition, 12 isolated bacterial strains showed high degradation efficiency for TNT, 2-ADNT, 4-ADNT, and 2,4-DANT, and activated the mineral element defense network to resist the toxic effects of TNT, and Mn, Mg and B species were involved in the process of microbial degradation of pollutants. A compound mixture of these microbial agents efficiently degraded soil TNT and its intermediate toxic byproducts. Our analysis of the environmental behavior and trends for TNT provides a microbial remediation strategy for ammunition-contaminated soil and is of great significance for soil productivity recovery and climate change.

Novel Models for Accurate Estimation of Air-Blood Partitioning: Applications to Individual Compounds and Complex Mixtures of Neutral Organic Compounds.

The air-blood partition coefficient (Kab) is extensively employed in human health risk assessment for chemical exposure. However, current Kab estimation approaches either require an extensive number of parameters or lack precision. In this study, we present two novel and parsimonious models to accurately estimate Kab values for individual neutral organic compounds, as well as their complex mixtures. The first model, termed the GC×GC model, was developed based on the retention times of nonpolar chemical analytes on comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography (GC×GC). This model is unique in its ability to estimate the Kab values for complex mixtures of nonpolar organic chemicals. The GC×GC model successfully accounted for the Kab variance (R2 = 0.97) and demonstrated strong prediction power (RMSE = 0.31 log unit) for an independent set of nonpolar chemical analytes. Overall, the GC×GC model can be used to estimate Kab values for complex mixtures of neutral organic compounds. The second model, termed the partition model (PM), is based on two types of partition coefficients: octanol to water (Kow) and air to water (Kaw). The PM was able to effectively account for the variability in Kab data (n = 344), yielding an R2 value of 0.93 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.34 log unit. The predictive power and explanatory performance of the PM were found to be comparable to those of the parameter-intensive Abraham solvation models (ASMs). Additionally, the PM can be integrated into the software EPI Suite, which is widely used in chemical risk assessment for initial screening. The PM provides quick and reliable estimation of Kab compared to ASMs, while the GC×GC model is uniquely suited for estimating Kab values for complex mixtures of neutral organic compounds. In summary, our study introduces two novel and parsimonious models for the accurate estimation of Kab values for both individual compounds and complex mixtures.

Microbial degradation of naphthenic acids using constructed wetland treatment systems: metabolic and genomic insights for improved bioremediation of process-affected water.

Naphthenic acids (NAs) are a complex mixture of organic compounds released during bitumen extraction from mined oil sands that are important contaminants of oil sands process-affected water (OSPW). NAs can be toxic to aquatic organisms and, therefore, are a main target compound for OSPW. The ability of microorganisms to degrade NAs can be exploited for bioremediation of OSPW using constructed wetland treatment systems (CWTS), which represent a possible low energy and low-cost option for scalable in situ NA removal. Recent advances in genomics and analytical chemistry have provided insights into a better understanding of the metabolic pathways and genes involved in NA degradation. Here, we discuss the ecology of microbial NA degradation with a focus on CWTS and summarize the current knowledge related to the metabolic pathways and genes used by microorganisms to degrade NAs. Evidence to date suggests that NAs are mostly degraded aerobically through ring cleavage via the beta-oxidation pathway, which can be combined with other steps such as aromatization, alpha-oxidation, omega-oxidation, or activation as coenzyme A (CoA) thioesters. Anaerobic NA degradation has also been reported via the production of benzoyl-CoA as an intermediate and/or through the involvement of methanogens or nitrate, sulfate, and iron reducers. Furthermore, we discuss how genomic, statistical, and modeling tools can assist in the development of improved bioremediation practices.

Adult-Onset Transcriptomic Effects of Developmental Exposure to Benzene in Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Evaluating a Volatile Organic Compound of Concern.

Urban environments are afflicted by mixtures of anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC sources that drive human exposure include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, and oil spillage. The highly volatile VOC benzene has been linked to adverse health outcomes. However, few studies have focused on the later-in-life effects of low-level benzene exposure during the susceptible window of early development. Transcriptomic responses during embryogenesis have potential long-term consequences at levels equal to or lower than 1 ppm, therefore justifying the analysis of adult zebrafish that were exposed during early development. Previously, we identified transcriptomic alteration following controlled VOC exposures to 0.1 or 1 ppm benzene during the first five days of embryogenesis using a zebrafish model. In this study, we evaluated the adult-onset transcriptomic responses to this low-level benzene embryogenesis exposure (n = 20/treatment). We identified key genes, including col1a2 and evi5b, that were differentially expressed in adult zebrafish in both concentrations. Some DEGs overlapped at the larval and adult stages, specifically nfkbiaa, mecr, and reep1. The observed transcriptomic results suggest dose- and sex-dependent changes, with the highest impact of benzene exposure to be on cancer outcomes, endocrine system disorders, reproductive success, neurodevelopment, neurological disease, and associated pathways. Due to molecular pathways being highly conserved between zebrafish and mammals, developmentally exposed adult zebrafish transcriptomics is an important endpoint for providing insight into the long term-effects of VOCs on human health and disease.

Volatile fingerprints of beef cooking methods using sol–gel‐based solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) and direct analysis in real‐time mass spectrometry (DART‐MS)

RationaleThe aroma profile of food is a complex mixture of volatile compounds that constitutes a major component of the overall eating experience. The food service industry and chefs therefore constantly seek ways to investigate and thereby enhance the aroma profile. Oven cooking, sous vide and pan fry are three cooking methods of beef commonly practised by chefs. Near real‐time analysis of volatile compounds from these three cooking methods will provide insight into respective volatile fingerprints and help improve cooking techniques.MethodsVolatile compounds from three beef cooking methods were captured using an in‐house sol–gel based solid phase microextraction (SPME) method and analysed using direct analysis in real‐time mass spectrometry (DART‐MS). A volatile organic compound (VOC) standard was used to demonstrate successful implementation of the sol–gel coating technique. Volatile features discriminating the three cooking methods were shortlisted and statistically assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses.ResultsThe VOC standard was successfully adsorbed by the sol–gel method and detected by DART‐MS. Hierarchical cluster analysis clearly demarcated three beef cooking methods based on their volatile fingerprints. Out of 65 significant features differentiating the cooking methods, 50 were at highest concentrations from pan‐fry cooking only, followed by 14 with highest concentrations from oven cooking followed by pan frying. Sous vide followed by pan frying showed lowest concentrations of almost all volatile features.ConclusionsThe sol–gel‐based solid‐phase microextraction technique combined with DART‐MS was successful in differentiating beef cooking methods based on their volatile fingerprints. A workflow for rapid assessment of the volatile profile from beef cooking methods was established, providing a baseline to further explore volatile profiles from other key ingredients.