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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Leetown, West Virginia » Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #426302
Research Project: Innovating New Technologies that Improve Efficiencies of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems

Location: Cool and Cold Water Aquaculture Research

Title: Feasibility study of Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) for rapid off-flavor detection in recirculating aquaculture systems cultured Atlantic salmon

Author
item RANJAN, RAKESH - Freshwater Institute
item KOTHAWADE, GAJANAN - Freshwater Institute
item DAVIDSON, JOHN - Freshwater Institute
item KHOT, LAV - Washington State University

Submitted to: Aquacultural Engineering
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/30/2025
Publication Date: 9/1/2025
Citation: Ranjan, R., Kothawade, G.S., Davidson, J., Khot, L.R. 2025. Feasibility study of Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) for rapid off-flavor detection in recirculating aquaculture systems cultured Atlantic salmon. Aquacultural Engineering. 112. Article 102622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2025.102622.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2025.102622

Interpretive Summary: Naturally-occurring off-flavor compounds can bioaccumulate in fish grown in recirculation aquaculture systems (RAS) resulting in an earthy taste that can be objectionable to consumers. Producers can reduce these compounds before marketing their fish, but current methods to measure them are expensive and time-consuming. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated the potential to use field asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) as a rapid and portable technology to measure off-flavor compounds fish. Although further refinement is needed, rapid and portable technologies like FAIMS will allow producers to quickly and accurately measure off-flavor compounds so they can effectively and efficiently remediate off-flavors and provide consumers with consistent, high-quality product.

Technical Abstract: This study evaluates the feasibility of portable Field Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS) system for detecting geosmin-related off-flavors in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fillets. Salmon were exposed to a concentrated geosmin solution to spike off-flavor concentration in the fish tissues, followed by purging to create varying geosmin levels. Baseline geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) in water, and fillet samples were quantified using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Volatile organic compound (VOC) fingerprints from geosmin-treated cold and heated fillet samples were analyzed via FAIMS, and the results were compared against the untreated control groups. For cold samples, the VOC signatures of the untreated control and treatments groups with spiked off-flavor were nearly identical. Heated samples, however, exhibited distinct ion current profiles in the compensation voltage (CV) range of -2 to 2 V. A principal component analysis also demonstrated evident separation between control and treatment groups. While FAIMS showed promise in effectively differentiating the VOC fingerprints between geosmin-treated and untreated control fish fillets, the system was unable to distinguish concentration differences within treatment groups, regardless of thermal treatment. Overall, the sampling and pre-processing protocols developed in this study can help fish farmers quickly identify geosmin-contaminated batches during grow-out stages and prior to processing, enabling timely corrective actions. With further optimization, this technology holds promise for improving off-flavor remediation strategies and minimizing the risk of product rejection.