Food-Grade CO2 Analysis with the PTR-TOF Ultra

The modern beverage and food industry is not imaginable without food-grade carbon (CO₂) dioxide. Some of the uses of food-grade CO₂ include carbonation of beverages, and it is also used as packaging and cooling gas.

This article investigates volatile organic impurities developing from a food-grade certified (European standard E 290) carbon dioxide cylinder using a PTR-TOF 1000 ultra.

Poster: Real-time Quantification of Impurities in Food-Grade CO₂ with PTR-MS.

The PTR-TOF 1000 ultra is a compact PTR-TOFMS available with the ION-BOOSTER funnel technology. The high sensitivity of the PTR-TOF 1000 ultra allows it to be considered as an ideal tool for applications where complex matrices have to be rapidly examined. Quality assurance in the food and flavor industry is one such example application.

Concentration vs. time. Impurities show different dynamic.

Concentrations of volatile impurities detected in food-grade CO₂ show a dynamic behavior, with maxima at varied times after opening the cylinder. Consequently, the introduction of the CO₂ into food or the time of measurement for QA will have a major influence on the level of impurities.

Comparing mass spectra of filtered and unfiltered CO₂. Impurities are visible.

The great advantage of real-time analysis in food and flavor quality assurance is highlighted by these results that also demonstrate the benefits of using the PTR-TOF 1000 ultra instrument.