ZHANG Lanyue, SUN Wancheng, LUO Yihao
To explore the differences in mutton flavor in different regions, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectroscopy (GC-IMS) was used to qualitatively analyze the volatile flavor substances of mutton in Qinghai Chaka, Qinghai Yushu, Qinghai Qilian, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia. The fingerprint of volatile compounds, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis were used to distinguish the characteristic flavor compounds of mutton in different regions. Results showed that 36 volatile compounds were identified in mutton from different regions, mainly including ketones, alcohols, aldehydes, and others. Among them, benzaldehyde, butanol, acetone, 2-butanone, octanal, and 1-octene-3-alcohol were the characteristic flavor substances of Qinghai Chaka mutton. 2,3-butanedione was the characteristic flavor substance of Qinghai Yushu mutton. Pentanol, hexanal, 1-penten-3-ol, heptanaldehyde, trimethylpyrazine, 2-heptanone, cyclohexanone, E-2-pentanal, hexanol, 3-octanol, and 2-pentylfuran were the characteristic flavor substances of Qinghai Qilian mutton. Methyl acetate, 2-pentanone, and 2-hexanol were the characteristic flavor substances of Sichuan mutton. Propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, and dipropyl sulfide were the characteristic flavor substances of Inner Mongolia mutton. Acetoin and isoamyl butyrate were the characteristic flavor substances of Ningxia mutton. Fingerprint, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis showed that there were differences in mutton from different regions. The flavor of Qinghai Chaka and Qinghai Qilian mutton was similar and richer than that of the other four regions. GC-IMS can provide direction for mutton flavor analysis, origin identification, and consumers′ purchase of products.