17 replies to this topic

[MolBasser]

Finally, I get to get some time on our GCMS/O instrument. It is a Gas Chromatagraph, Mass Spectrometer, Olfactometer.Basically, it samples the head space of a beer (or any sample), separates the volatile molecules, measures their mass and length of retention time on the coloumn, and then dumps them into a sniff port so you can smell them real time as they appear on the chromatogram.Has a snazzy touch screen thingy that lets you punch in what you smell, when you smell it, so you can directly relate it to the molecule that you were smelling.I will be running pale ale, and it will take an hour to sniff all the components individually.I'm psyched!MolBasser

[djinkc]

That is so sweet to have those to play with. What a job to have! I'm guessing it was worth the time and effort you put in to get there.When can we expect you to be able to handle homebrew samples for us?Your soon to be best buddy dj eta how does the Olfactometer work?

Edited by dj in kc, 19 May 2010 - 06:49 PM.

[JimInNJ]

Beer geek heaven.- Jim

[CaptRon]

Video or it didn't happen!

[MyaCullen]

hmm, are you gonna run some Pruno through it for calibration?

[MolBasser]

That is so sweet to have those to play with. What a job to have! I'm guessing it was worth the time and effort you put in to get there.When can we expect you to be able to handle homebrew samples for us?Your soon to be best buddy dj eta how does the Olfactometer work?

It takes the molecules as they come off the coloumn and deliver them to a special sniff port on the machine. You sit next to it with your nose in a little glass funnel and get the molecules delivered to you.I'll take a picture tomorrow and post it.ETA: Yes, the greatest job ever. And the route was worth the destination.MolBasser

Edited by MolBasser, 19 May 2010 - 07:11 PM.

[Stout_fan]

Sounds like a cool play toy.

[Spoon]

NICE!

[ChefLamont]

Very CoolI was looking the other day at the website for the American Society Of Brewing Chemists...why yes I am that much of a nerd..... Anyway, I would love to learn more about the laboratory methods to analyze beer and ingredients. Problem is the CD they sell with the compilation of methods is $685. I cant afford to know them at that price. I know that GC-Mass Spec is used pretty commonly for a number of the measurements.

[MolBasser]

Here is a pic of the GCMS/OYou can see the sniff tube on the right. It folds down and you sit in a chair sniffing stuff and that screen is a touch screen with a matrix of aromas for you to punch in when you smell them and there intensity.It was a cool experience! I sat there with my nose in the port for a little over 45 minutes. Funky/cool/awesome/yucky smells came to me in their pure molecular form.Very cool. I can't wait to do it again.MolBasser

Edited by MolBasser, 20 May 2010 - 10:51 PM.

[Stout_fan]

Even the acronym is so complicated you can't pronounce it.So MB, what do you guys refer to it as?

[MolBasser]

The "GCMS/O"Sometimes just "GC"MolBasser

[MyaCullen]

The "GCMS/O"Sometimes just "GC"MolBasser

that's not very cool

[drewseslu]

How much was that bad boy?

[MolBasser]

Something like 250-350KMolBasser

Edited by MolBasser, 22 May 2010 - 11:20 AM.

[djinkc]

Looks like I need to clear some space in the brewery

[drewseslu]

Something like 250-350KMolBasser

I'll have my boys order two (gotta have a spare) on Monday

[AGrandDesign]

how far can they go?.