The Assessment of Laser Photoacoustic Spectroscopy as the Analytical Tool for Studying the Potato Sprout Suppressants Carvone and Pulegone

CO2 laser photoacoustic spectroscopy in combination with the resonant cell has been used to determine the absorption cross sections of the sprouting suppressants pulegone and carvone in order to evaluate the prospects of this technique for practical application during the storage of harvested potatoes. Maximal values found at room temperature are 0.06 atm−1 cm−1 and 0.04 atm−1 cm−1 for pulegone and carvone respectively, corresponding to detection limits of 200 and 150 ppbv. At CO laser wavelengths, a 1 ppb detection limit has been derived.