Open Innovation Submission Portal

Quantifying Aroma Compounds in Chocolate

Request Number 181001 | Author Mondelēz International

Description

We are looking for a better, faster way to quantify the aroma compound profile in milk chocolate vs. a standard GC-MS-based methodology.

Background

Analysing complex, high fat containing samples using standard GC-MS based methods generally takes a long time, which is limiting the amount of samples that can be analysed per day. We are aiming for increasing efficiencies, and therefore are interested in a quicker way to quantify our set of ~50 volatile compounds to increase sample throughput.

Key Success Criteria

An analytical method that can quantify ~50 defined volatile compounds in chocolate (i.e. in a fat-based matrix) that have the following properties / pose the following challenges:

• Molecular masses between 50 and 200 Da
• High to medium volatility (boiling point 80 – 270 °C)
• Large range of polarities (LogP -0.2 to 3)
• High to medium chemical reactivity (e.g. short-chain aldehydes, sulphur compounds)
• Potential formation of artefacts
  • if sample is heated above 70C
  • in low and high pH conditions (below 2 and above 8)
  • in aqueous conditions
• Large range of concentrations (~1 ug/kg to ~200 mg/kg)
• Desired repeatability of duplicate measurements: <20% RSD
• Easily scalable around the world

Desired time requirement for the analysis:

30 samples in duplicate per day (time includes sample preparation, instrument run time, and data processing).

What We Aren't Interested In

• E-nose and similar solutions that do not result in a quantitative concentration for each of the ~50 compounds of interest
• Methods/tools that are not already available and need to be developed from scratch

Preferred Collaboration types

We are only keen to explore commercially available technologies that meet the above criteria.

Mondelēz International Open Innovation Submission Portal

Submit your ideas and innovations to the Mondelēz International Open Innovation Submission Portal. After reviewing information above regarding Mondelēz International's current innovation needs, simply click "submit your idea" and complete as many of the fields as possible. When complete, click the "submit" button and we will get back to you.