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Hohenstein Institutes present a new area of key research - Textile odour analysis

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19.03.2007

Thanks to the close interdisciplinary cooperation between textile chemists and human biologists, the experts at the Hohenstein Institutes in Bönnigheim now have an innovative analytical method which can be used to characterise odour molecules in qualitative terms.

The new area of research promises particularly interesting findings for the development of clothing and home textiles, as well as technical, medical and wellness textiles, as it will make it possible to objectively examine related questions regarding textiles and odour in future.

The analysis developed using GC/MS-technology simulates the human nose and is able to identify odour molecules released from textiles and other materials, including the odour of human skin. It also makes it possible to chemically determine the relevant odour molecules accurately, including a representation of the relevant chemical structure. However, unlike the human nose, the new process can also determine the exact quantity of odour molecules released.

Possible applications being looked into within the new field of research at Hohenstein include current clothing trends such as textiles for aromatherapy. However, the manufacture of detergents and washing machines also represents one possible area of application for odour analysis. Researchers at the Hohenstein Institutes are also looking into initial strategies for optimising antimicrobially active textiles with the aim of minimising the formation of perspiration odour. For this, textile odour analysis is carried out following in-vivo wear tests on test subjects.

Contacts at the Hohenstein Institutes for further information on textile odour analysis are:

Dr. Jan Beringer,
E-mail: j.beringer@hohenstein.de

Dr. Dirk Höfer
E-mail: d.hoefer@hohenstein.de

Rose-Marie Riedl | Source: Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Further information: www.hohenstein.de

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