Evaluation of Chinese vinegar by electronic nose

Twelve vinegars from different production areas in China were evaluated by the Portable Electronic Nose 3 (PEN3), and the data detected by PEN3 were analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and loadings analysis (LA). The results of PCA and LDA all showed that the electronic nose could clearly discriminate the vinegars of difference production areas, but had very little discrimination on same production area vinegars. The results of LD showed that these sensors, including W1S, W2S, W5S, W2W, W1W, W5C, were appropriate to evaluate and compare the aroma of vinegars, especially W1S, W2S, W5S. Loadings analysis also indicated that these compounds in twelve vinegars had great differences, such as acids, esters, alcohols, alkanes, while aromatics compounds, sulfur-containing compounds and alkenes had some distinctions.