The global nail polish market was estimated at over $15 billion (USD) in 2023 and is expected to grow at a rate greater than 8% between 2024 and 2033. There are two main types of chemistry used for nail polish. The first is nitrocellulose dissolved in a sol-vent. The nitrocellulose hardens after the solvent evaporates. The other chemistry is based on acrylic polymers which polymerize as part of the application process. Other chemicals added to the pol-ish may include photoinitiators, stabilizers, solvents, plasticizers, pigments, thickeners, and even fragrances.

Scented products, including car air fresheners, soaps and deter-gents, candles, and even garbage bags, are ubiquitous in our ev-eryday lives. They are primarily intended to cover up malodors but can also enhance one’s mood or be used in aromatherapy.
Thermal desorption is an introduction technique for gas chro-matography that can be used for a wide variety of applications, including the analysis of fragrance compounds in consumer prod-ucts. Options for thermal desorption include direct thermal ex-traction, Twister, Thin Film SPME, air sampling, and direct injection of liquids.

The plant-based protein market has been booming in the past few years. However, flavor remains the most significant barrier to overcome. Specifically, it is a challenge to maintain the flavor of plant-based meat alternative products as they age in storage. In this study, a sensory directed analysis (SDA) approach was em-ployed to determine if adding rosemary extract, with antioxidant properties, could maintain freshness in plant-based meat alterna-tives in the form of a burger patty. The method utilized dynam-ic headspace (DHS) sample extraction and gas chromatographic separation paired with simultaneous olfactometry and mass spec-trometric detection (GC-O/MS).

Measurements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in air have expanded. There are few analytical methods available which measure PFAS in air. Thermal desorption, gas chromatography, and tandem mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS/MS) is being successfully used for this purpose by the US EPA for the evaluation of indoor air and indoor materials using a simple, valve-free thermal desorber architecture.

The collection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from ambient air is either achieved actively by sampling onto a sorbent tube using a sampling pump, or passively using the tube as a diffusive sampler without pumping air through it. Active sampling is preferable because of easier quantification, shorter sampling time, and wider compound range that can be determined using a single tube.

In the work presented here, the PFAS listed in EN 17892, including the substance list in EU Drinking Water Directive (EU 2020/2184), were determined by an automated method based on solid phase extraction with weak anion exchange sorbent combined with LCMS/ MS. Recovery rates, blank values, and limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined following the requirements of the EN 17892 method. The method accuracy was demonstrated based on analysis of spiked water samples from different sources. LOQs in drinking water were below 0.5 ng/L for the vast majority of compounds.

Compostable products have gained popularity due to their green environmental claims. However, most of these materials are not strictly plant-based nor are they disposed of at the proper industrial composting sites. In this study, the GERSTEL PYRO Core system enables efficient automation of the thermal extraction and pyrolysis of three compostable and/or biodegradable materials and two natural sources.

To enhance the fragrance and taste of cigarettes smoke, flavor additives are often incorporated into cut tobacco. Analyzing the aroma components of cut tobacco holds significant importance. Therefore, it is crucial to select an efficient method for extracting the aroma and odor components from cut tobacco. In this study, a GERSTEL LabWorks Platform using Thermal Desorption TDU/Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction (SBSE) combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is employed for the analysis and identification of volatile flavor and aroma components in cut tobacco.

Thoroughly determining the VOCs and semi-VOCs in various consumer goods using the proper extraction technique for GCMS is vital for ensuring quality control, batch consistency, regulatory compliance, and successful product development studies. However, conventional sample extraction methods face significant limitations such as the introduction of additional solvents, the inability to handle matrix complexity, and difficulty achieving extremely low detection limits.

Aroma analysis is of paramount importance in the plant-based meat industry. The ability to replicate flavors and mimic real meat is vital in appealing to consumers. To capture the aroma profiles of cooked meat, analysts may often resort to equilibrium-based headspace extraction approaches such as headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) instead of dynamic purge approaches like dynamic headspace (DHS) sampling, despite the potential of the latter for higher recovery and sensitivity.