9. Conclusions and outlook

Gas chromatography/olfactometry can therefore be considered an important analytical tool for studying the compounds responsible for the odor of the matrix under study.

It involves little change from a conventional chromatograph. The use of a split system at the end of the column allows the eluent to be divided in two. One part is led to a physical detector (FID, MS...), the other to an olfactory detection port. These two transfers are carried out by hollow capillaries, the lengths and diameters of which are chosen to synchronize output times. Wherever possible, the temperature of the transfer line leading to the olfactory detection port should be adjustable to minimize remanence of low-volatility compounds.

The columns used are almost exclusively capillary, with internal diameters and film thicknesses generally slightly larger than those...