PTR-MS “tastes” what we eat

Danisco, the food ingredient company, has used proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) to develop its “Commonsense” flavour technology. This enables flavour components to be measured as they are released while natural and processed foods and beverages are being consumed. This enables a picture to be obtained of how consumers perceive the taste of the food they eat and the specific components behind consumer preferences.

Using PTR-MS, they measure the rise and fall of key flavour chemicals during chewing, swallowing and breathing. The measurements are made on samples taken from the human nasal cavity, focusing particularly on the breath expelled during the swallowing of food, which is the major contributor to aroma perception. The use of PTR-MS enables the measurements to be made in real time. Once the critical compounds that distinguish a particular fruit or food have been identified, it is possible to recreate a similar effect in a finished food or beverage product. www.danisco.com

Differential mobility spectrometer to help treat lung disease

A new technique based on differential mobility spectrometry (DMS), a development of ion mobility spectrometry, is being developed by Dr Paul Thomas and colleagues at the University of Manchester to treat hospital patients with lung disease. The aim is, according to Dr Thomas, that “…one day we will be able to detect a previously undetectable tumour metabolising inside a human lung simply by asking the patient to breathe into a device like this”. “The potential is such that we will not only be able to provide more accurate diagnosis, but we will be able to tailor treatments to the individual. For instance, if a patient is taking steroids for asthma, we would be able to determine whether they were being given the right amount of steroids from the molecules in their breath which relate to the severity of the inflammation in their lungs.”

This research will form part of the new UK National Initiative in Ion Mobility Spectrometry [see Spectrosc. Europe 17(4), (2005)].

Thallium isotopes shows depth of volcanoes

New research using mass spectrometry to analyse the isotopic signature of thallium has shown that the plumes of hot material that supply molten lava to Hawaii’s volcanoes originate from a depth of almost 3000km, at the border between the Earth’s core and its rocky mantle. This is far deeper than had been thought possible by many scientists: the source of plumes has been hotly debated for more than a quarter of a century.

Dr Mark Rehkämper, from the Department of Earth Sciences and Engineering at Imperial College London, UK, said “It is only recently that scientists have developed the ability to analyse these volcanic rocks in enough detail to reveal exactly where in the Earth’s interior they came from. The previous evidence has unfortunately been quite ambiguous but our new thallium results are now able to conclusively rule out some of the alternative models. What remains is clear evidence of interaction between the Earth’s core and mantle.”

dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature04450

Photon research centre at Manchester

The University of Manchester has launched the Photon Science Institute (PSI). This £40m research institute will work on cutting-edge light and laser technologies and is the largest research and teaching centre of its kind in the UK with a projected annual research income of £5m and more than 30 full-time academic staff. The Director of the PSI is Professor Klaus Müller-Dethlefs, who is widely known for his contributions to molecular spectroscopy, having invented the ZEKE (Zero Electron Kinetic Energy) photoelectron method.

Research will focus on the development and application of new and existing laser technologies and systems spanning medicine, pharmaceuticals, life sciences and physical sciences. Among the projects will be the development of new non-invasive medical technologies, such as measuring blood sugar levels without taking a blood sample. www.psi.manchester.ac.uk

Medical tunable laser market

Research and Markets have published Medical Tunable Laser Market Oppor­tunities, Strategies, and Forecasts, 2006 to 2012. The market is estimated at $5.6million in 2005 and to reach $2.8billion by 2012. Among the conclusions from the report is that absorption spectroscopy is emerging as a significant mechanism useful for diverse medical purposes. www.researchandmarkets.com/report/c30164