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Round Rock, TX - AromaTrax instrumentation, from Microanalytics, a subsidiary of MOCON, combines state-of-the-art technology with the human nose to help researchers find broader market applications for industrial grade ethanol (ethyl alcohol).

Typically used as a fuel alternative, researchers at Iowa State University and other institutions are looking for ways to convert the less expensive industrial grade ethanol into a suitable additive for food, beverage or health and beauty aid applications.

Industrial grade ethanol is too dirty and malodorous, and impurities are prohibitively expensive to remove, for use in consumable products. Food grade ethanol, which is more expensive to process, has traditionally been used for those applications.

Microanalytics™ AromaTrax GCMS-Olfactometry Systems, combined with the human nose, now provides researchers and food processors with an accurate and efficient way to characterize and identify critical odors. Identifying the compounds that are causing malodors speeds the development of effective processing strategies for their removal.

Iowa State University is currently using the AromaTrax® to collect odors in the headspace above the ethanol. The instrumentation has the capability of separating each chemical compound and delivering it to a chemical "sniff port." A human analyst or "nose" then evaluates each compound by grading its intensity and identifying its odor characteristic.

"This is relatively complex technology," says Don Wright, president of Microanalytics™. "In addition to the technology that has gone into the instrumentation, we also have developed ‘bookkeeping' software which allows the analyst to react quickly to the compound presented by giving them a way to log their findings directly onto a computer screen. Speed is critical since analysts often only have a second or two to respond to one compound before the next one presents itself via the sniff port."

Although, the AromaTrax unit is capable of identifying thousands of compounds, typically only a small number are most responsible for causing the odor issues. Identification and removal of those compounds may enable industrial grade ethanol in the future to become a less expensive alternative for consumer applications such as mouthwashes, cough syrup, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food additives and alcoholic beverages.

In addition to selling AromaTrax units, Microanalytics™ also provides in-house testing and consulting services for companies who need rapid resolution of an odor quality problem. This is a valuable alternative for companies who do not have the luxury of ramping up internal capabilities (both labor and equipment investment) to solve an odor problem that has suddenly presented itself.

SOURCE: MOCON, Inc.