COMBINED GC AND SNIFFING PORT ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS IN RUBBER RINGS MOUNTED ON BEER BOTTLES

For product development reasons two types (A and B) of rubber rings, u sed on clasps of swing top beer bottles, were investigated for the pre sence of volatile compounds,, which could affect the taste/odour of th e packed beer due to (vapour phase) migration. Samples were incubated under different conditions and after dynamic headspace sampling, analy sed by combined GC and sniffing port analysis. Compounds were also ide ntified by GC-MS. The main differences were located in the presence of isobutene isomers in Ring Type A, which were absent in Ring Type B. T hese compounds were described mainly as 'toy-like' and 'rubber'. There fore rite risk for off-flavour development is expected to be diminishe d by using Ring Type B.