Activity: Academic and Industrial events › Guest lecture or Invited talk
Description
Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry (PTR-MS) is a highly sensitive and rapid direct sampling instrument and is the most widely used method for real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). It has the ability to detect VOCs in concentrations as low as parts-per-trillion which is really low. Therefore PTR-MS can be used to detect molecules in different types of environments such as the atmosphere, breath, food, space, drugs detection and explosives detection, like at the airport. Dr Zafar’s talk will explain how the PTR-MS has been used for an investigation on the headspace (gas-space directly above the honey) of various Manuka honeys. This is to ascertain the volatiles being emitted from honey and to determine any correlations between the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) and concentrations of the VOCs. Manuka honey is valued for its high antibacterial properties and as such is an expensive product. What’s more, there have been reports of fake Manuka honey on the market!