Real-Time Profiling of Volatile Malt Aldehydes Using Selected Ion Flow Tube Mass Spectrometry

The potential of selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) to differentiate malted barley cultivars on the basis of their headspace profiles has been investigated. From a broad range of volatiles, marker aldehydes were selected because they are associated with malt quality and beer flavor stability. The authors used dynamic headspace SIFT-MS to identify the target volatiles in the different malt headspaces. The technique exhibited an increase in specificity and speed compared with the headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) gas chromatography MS method currently used. The unique feature of SIFT-MS to analyze sample headspaces rapidly and directly without the need for sample preparation, derivatization, or chromatographic preseparation is demonstrated.