Proof-of-Concept Study on Supercritical Fluid Chromatography Hyphenated with a Fast Optoelectronic Nose for Online Monitoring of Odorant Molecules
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In this study, we explored the use of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and Mach–Zehnder interferometry for detecting compounds in complex mixtures separated by supercritical fluid chromatography. Each molecule was individually injected and analyzed by supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) in a 10% alcoholic solution. The fingerprints obtained via the sensors were then compared to the fingerprints of the same molecules present in a lemon essential oil (EO) at the same dilution. The results show a remarkable correlation between UV sensors and electronic noses (e-nose), enabling compound detection. The obtained signals are normalized and presented as radar charts to visualize the specific olfactory signatures of each molecule. The olfactory profiles of monoterpenes C10H16 such as α-pinene and limonene show notable differences, as do the C10H16O isomers (citral, geranial, and neral). Mach–Zehnder interferometry also allows for the discrimination of limonene enantiomers, a challenging task for current chromatography techniques. Statistical analysis confirms the ability of these technologies to differentiate compounds, including isomers. Even if UV detection is more sensitive than SPR, e-noses (SPR and Mach–Zehnder interferometers) offer the unique advantage of providing specific signatures for each compound, facilitating real-time identification. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of combining e-noses with SFC for rapid, non-destructive detection of volatile compounds. This concept can be extended to other terpenoids and volatile compounds, and hybridization with gas chromatography could be a future potential development.
Source: Processes
DOI: 10.3390/pr13051425
Institutions: ISIPCA, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, École Polytechnique, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Laboratoire de Chimie Moléculaire, Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives, CEA Grenoble, Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire de Grenoble, Systèmes Moléculaires et nanoMatériaux pour l'Énergie et la Santé, Université Grenoble Alpes
Language: English
Subfield: Spectroscopy
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
OpenAlex ID: W4410160427