Application of HS-SPME-GC for Sample Classification

Abstract

The thesis presents two studies related to the analysis of volatile organic compounds(VOCs) in various samples using solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography (SPME-GC). The first study focuses on improving the reproducibility and accuracy of HS-SPME analysis by investigating standardization by use of an internal standard. The study evaluates the performance of multiple compounds as internal standards based on which effectively reduce unwanted in-class variations and have consistent peaks responses. The second study explores the feasibility of utilizing SPME-GC and chemometrics for the rapid and cost-effective classification of moisturedamaged cacao samples based on their VOC profiles. The study successfully develops a method for classifying moisture-damaged cacao samples based on their VOC profiles using SPME and GC analysis. The results demonstrate that several temperature programs were capable of distinguishing between moisture-damaged and intact cacao samples, and several class-distinguishing peaks were found, which enabled accurate differentiation between the two sample types. The study provides valuable insights for improving the accuracy and reliability of HS-SPME analysis and contributes to the development of improved quality control protocols in the cacao industry.