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New car odor: sensory and molecular characterization of odors and potential sources of smell in the vehicle interior
The typical new car smell is very distinctive. Depending on vehicle brand and class, this characteristic odor differs in intensity and elicits either approval or rejection among vehicle purchasers. Up to now, only limited information has been available on the molecular composition of the new car odo...
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Published in: | Lebensmittelchemie 2023-06, Vol.77 (S2), p.S2-026-S2-027 |
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Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | The typical new car smell is very distinctive. Depending on vehicle brand and class, this characteristic odor differs in intensity and elicits either approval or rejection among vehicle purchasers. Up to now, only limited information has been available on the molecular composition of the new car odor. Vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) are mainly concerned with the analysis of toxic compounds and (odorless) main components of the gas phase of the vehicle interior. In addition, OEMs usually do not have an appropriate equipment to characterize odorants by instrumental analysis. Therefore, this work deals with the investigation of odors and potential sources of smell in the vehicle interior. In the first two chapters of this thesis, odor‐active compounds of an aqueous cavity preservation were analyzed by means of solvent extraction, gas chromatography‐olfactometry (GC‐O) and odor extract dilution analysis (OEDA). Odorants of the investigated corrosion inhibitor could enter the vehicle interior via air bridges between the vehicle body and the passenger cabin and could have a considerable influence on the odor. Identification of the potent odors by twodimensional gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry coupled with olfactometry (2D‐GC‐ MS/O) revealed a series of carboxylic acids and lactones as the main odor contributors of the cavity preservation. The hardening of the cavity preservation affected a change of the odor profile due to the evaporation of odor‐potent lactones which was confirmed by a descriptive odor profile analysis. A comparison with odorants of individual materials of the vehicle interior investigated in literature revealed that both identified substance classes are present in a wide variety of materials and, consequently, contribute to the odor in the vehicle interior. In the third chapter of this thesis, odorants of the aqueous cavity preservation were investigated by means of emission test chamber experiments with the aim to obtain further insights into the odorant composition. Since no appropriate method existed to investigate odorants in a gas phase in the form of a liquid odor extract, different sampling strategies, such as chamber air absorption and adsorption, were compared. Subsequent investigations by GC‐O and OEDA revealed potent carboxylic acids and lactones in the gas phase of the heated cavity preservation using each sampling method. In addition, more detailed results were obtained in a descriptive odor profile analysis by sample presentati |
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ISSN: | 0937-1478 1521-3811 |
DOI: | 10.1002/lemi.202352207 |