beta-ionone and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine

A systematic study was conducted on seasonal and spatial patterns of taste and odor (T&O) compounds with relation to biotic and abiotic parameters at fifteen sites in Gonghu Bay of Lake Taihu in 2008. We developed a sensitive and automated method to simultaneously analyze eight T&O compounds (boiling points ranging from 38°C to 239°C) by using Purge-and-Trap (P&T) coupled with GC/MS. Maximum particulate dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS, 69.6 ng/L) exceeded its odor threshold concentrations (OTC, 10 ng/L) and maximum dissolved DMTS was 6.1 ng/L, but still far below concentration in the drinking water pollution incident of Wuxi City in 2007 when DMTS reached 1768-11,399 ng/L. Geosmin (GEO), 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), β-cyclocitral, β-ionone and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) occasionally or frequently exceeded their OTCs, whereas 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IPMP) and dimethyl sulfide (DMS) did not. We found for the first time significant correlations between particulate β-cyclocitral and β-ionon concentrations and intracellular and extracellular microcystin concentrations. Spatially, Nanquan Waterworks faced more risk by T&O contamination than Xidong Waterworks. High concentrations of NO(3)-N, TDN and TN could be risky signs of taste and odor events by DMS, DMTS, IPMP, IBMP and GEO.

Topics: Aldehydes; Camphanes; China; Diterpenes; Environmental Monitoring; Fresh Water; Microcystins; Naphthols; Norisoprenoids; Odorants; Phytoplankton; Pyrazines; Seasons; Sulfides; Taste; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Supply

The occurrence of algal taste and odor (T&O) compounds was investigated in three Swiss lakes which exhibit different nutrient levels from eutrophic to oligotrophic (Lake Greifensee, Lake Zurich and Lake Lucerne). Apart from dissolved T&O compounds, the study also encompassed particle-bound compounds, i.e., compounds that can be released from damaged algal cells during drinking water treatment. A combined instrumental (SPME-GC-MS) and sensory method was applied that allowed to detect and quantify T&O compounds in natural waters in the sub ppt to low ppt-range. In addition to the prominent T&O compounds geosmin and 2-methyl-isoborneol (MIB), four other T&O compounds could be detected in the lake waters, though all at relatively low concentrations (maximum concentrations of geosmin 19 ng L(-1), MIB 3 ng L(-1), beta-ionone 27 ng L(-1), beta-cyclocitral 7 ng L(-1), 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine 2 ng L(-1), 2-isopropyl-3-methoxypyrazine 16 ng L(-1)). The concentration peaks typically occurred in the epilimnion during summer concurrent with a high phytoplankton biomass. Consistently, the concentration levels for most of the compounds varied substantially between the three lakes and generally decreased in the order eutrophic Lake Greifensee>mesotrophic Lake Zurich>oligotrophic Lake Lucerne. Furthermore, our data revealed that the occurrence of beta-ionone was largely influenced by Planktothrix rubescens. This is the first time that a correlation between beta-ionone and this cyanobacterium has been reported for natural waters.

Topics: Camphanes; Fresh Water; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Naphthols; Norisoprenoids; Odorants; Organic Chemicals; Particulate Matter; Phytoplankton; Pyrazines; Reproducibility of Results; Solubility; Switzerland; Taste