A preliminary identification and determination of characteristic volatile organic compounds from cotton, polyester and terry-towel by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Analysis of fifteen volatile organic compounds previously associated with laundry malodour has been investigated using headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Limits of detection (all determined on a 25 cm(2) area of fabric) ranged from a low of 0.4 ng (for guaiacol) through to a high of 28 ng (for 3-methylindole) on cotton; values on polyester ranged from a low of 0.7 ng (for dimethyl trisulfide) through to a high of 37 ng (for 3-methylindole); and, values on terry-towel ranged from a low of 1.7 ng (for guaiacol) through to a high of 157 ng (for ethyl benzene). There was a lack of correlation between the level of malodour and the occurrence of any of the VOCs detected; it could be that other compounds not evaluated in this study are responsible for malodour or it could be a collaborative effect of the various compounds studied.