Microwave mediated distillation with solid-phase microextraction: determination of off-flavors, geosmin and methylisoborneol, in catfish tissue

Presented is a rapid distillation device for use with solid-phase microextraction (SPME). We apply this device specifically for determining two semivolatile off-flavor compounds, methylisoborneol and geosmin, in channel catfish. The presence of these two compounds in channel catfish filets results in unwelcome tastes. In the presented procedure, a catfish tissue sample is placed within a sample container located inside the microwave device. Microwave radiation is applied and distillates formed migrate through a condenser via a purge gas and are collected in a sample vial. A SPME fiber is placed within the stirred collected distillate and methylisoborneol and geosmin are extracted. Qualitative and quantitative results of these extractions are obtained using a gas chromatograph-ion trap mass spectrometer. This solventless technique results in detection limits far below the human threshold for these off-flavor compounds in channel catfish. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.