Analysis of Fishy Odor in Water using Headspace GC/MS

Introduction

Recently, the quality of drinking water is evaluated not only by safety but also by taste. The taste of drinking water can be spoiled by various factors, including unpleasant odors. Accordingly there is a high demand for analysis of substances causing unpleasant odors. Among these substances, geosmin and 2- methylisoborneol, which cause a musty odor, are regulated as Japanese water quality standard items. Heptadienal (2E, 4Z and 2E, 4E) and decadienal (2E, 4Z and 2E, 4E), picked up in this Application News, are unsaturated aldehydes originating in golden-brown algae, and are thought to be substances that produce a foul odor. These substances are typically analyzed by purge and trap GC/MS because they have a high vapor pressure (Application News No. M181). This Application News introduces an analysis of these substances using the headspace GC/MS featuring easy maintenance and low contamination.

June 16, 2005 GMT