Simultaneous Chemical and Sensory Analysis of Domestic Cat Urine and Feces With Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and GC-MS-Olfactometry

The association between human and cat (F. catus) is well known. This domestic animal is also known for its malodorous urine and feces. The complexity of the odorous urine and feces impacts human life by triggering the human sensory organ in a negative way. The objective of this research was to identify the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and associated odors in cat urine and feces using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and simultaneous sensory analysis of fresh and aged samples. The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique was used to pre-concentrate the VOCs emitted from urine or feces samples. Twenty-one compounds were identified as emitted from fresh urine, whereas 64 compounds were emitted from fresh feces. A contrasting temporal impact was observed on the emission of VOCs for urine and feces. On aging, the emission increased to 36 detected chemicals for stale urine, whereas only 17 chemicals were detected in stale feces. Not all compounds were malodorous; some compounds had a pleasant hedonic smell to the human nose. Although trimethylamine, low molecular weight organic acids, and ketones were contributors to the odor to some extent, phenolic compounds and aromatic heterocyclic organic N compounds generated the most intense odors and substantially contributed to the overall malodor, as observed by this study. This work might be useful to formulate cat urine and feces odor remediation approaches to reduce odor impacts.

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Simultaneous Chemical and Sensory Analysis of Domestic Cat Urine and Feces with Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and GC-MS-Olfactometry

Separations ◽

10.3390/separations8020015 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 15

Author(s):

Chumki Banik ◽

Jacek A. Koziel ◽

James Z. Li

Keyword(s):

Sensory Analysis ◽

Solid Phase Microextraction ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Human Life ◽

Domestic Animal ◽

Domestic Cat ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Organic N ◽

Fresh Feces ◽

Human Nose

The association between humans and cats (Felis catus) is well known. This domestic animal is also known for its malodorous urine and feces. The complexity of the odorous urine and feces impacts human life by triggering the human sensory organ in a negative way. The objective of this research was to identify the volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) and associated odors in cat urine and feces using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and simultaneous sensory analysis of fresh and aged samples. The solid-phase microextraction (SPME) technique was used to preconcentrate the VOCs emitted from urine or feces samples. Twenty-one compounds were identified as emitted from fresh urine, whereas 64 compounds were emitted from fresh feces. A contrasting temporal impact was observed in the emission of VOCs for urine and feces. On aging, the emission increased to 34 detected chemicals for stale urine, whereas only 12 chemicals were detected in stale feces. Not all compounds were malodorous; some compounds had a pleasant hedonic smell to the human nose. Although trimethylamine, low-molecular-weight organic acids, and ketones were contributors to the odor to some extent, phenolic compounds and aromatic heterocyclic organic N compounds generated the most intense odors and substantially contributed to the overall malodor, as observed by this study. This work might be useful to formulate cat urine and feces odor remediation approaches to reduce odor impacts.

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Preliminary Study of Australian Pinot Noir Wines by Colour and Volatile Analyses, and the Pivot© Profile Method Using Wine Professionals

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9091142 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 1142

Author(s):

Rocco Longo ◽

Wes Pearson ◽

Angela Merry ◽

Mark Solomon ◽

Luca Nicolotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sensory Analysis ◽

Solid Phase Microextraction ◽

Solid Phase ◽

Decanoic Acid ◽

Pinot Noir ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Total Anthocyanin ◽

Profile Method ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Ethyl Decanoate

The aim of this preliminary study was to identify potential colour components, volatile and sensory attributes that could discriminate Pinot noir wines from five Australian winegrowing regions (Adelaide Hills, Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Northern and Southern Tasmania). The sensory analysis consisted of the Pivot© Profile method that was performed by wine professionals. A headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to quantify multiple volatile compounds, while the Modified Somers method was used for colour characterisation. Analysis of data suggested ethyl decanoate, ethyl 2-methylpropanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutanoate, in addition to decanoic acid as important contributors to the discrimination between regions. Similarly, wine hue, chemical age indices, total anthocyanin, and (%) non-bleachable pigment also discriminated wines between regions. The sensory analysis showed that wines from Mornington Peninsula were associated with the ‘red fruits’ aroma, ‘acidic’, and ‘astringency’ palate descriptors, while those from Adelaide Hills were associated with the ‘brown’ colour attribute. This study indicates regionality is a strong driver of aroma typicity of wine.

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