Volatile and Odorous Compounds in Unprinted Paperboard

By means of steam distillation in combination with capillary gas chromatography and mass spectrometry many volatile compounds can be identified in unprinted paperboard. Depending on the ratio of their concentration and their specific odour threshold values, some of the volatile compounds contribute to odour intensity in paperboards. Examples are 2,4-decadienals, 2-nonenal and 1-octen-3-ol and the total range of aldehydes and short-chain fatty acids. The volatiles stem from auto-oxidation of unsaturated lipids, from resinous flavour, from mouldiness of wood or from fermentation processes within the water circuit. Paperboards with striking off odours reveal relatively high concentrations of volatile and odorous compounds.