Study of white truffle aging with SPME-GC-MS and the Pico2-electronic nose

We observe the change of aromatic compounds in the headspace of white truffles (Alba's Truffle) after storage at +4 degrees C over a period of a few days. Measurements have been performed using SPME-GC-MS technique and the Picot-electronic nose (EN) developed at Sensor Lab. in Brescia. The EN shows a very high sensitivity towards the truffle's relevant molecules such as 2,4-dithiapentane and is able to detect gasses from truffle samples up to a mass of the order of 10 mg. As for truffle aging, results obtained with both techniques are strongly correlated and confirm that there is a variation of the truffle's headspace after circa 5 days. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.