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Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Capturing Actively Produced Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds from Human-Associated Samples with Vacuum-Assisted Sorbent Extraction
Published on: June 1, 2022
Mucus-inspired organogel as an efficient absorbent and retention agent for volatile organic compounds
Jihoon Han1, Jemin Lee2, Seonghyeon Kim2
1Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, Gyeongbuk, 37673, Republic of Korea. ysookim@postech.ac.kr.
Abstract:
Nasal mucus plays a key role in the sense of smell by absorbing and transporting chemicals to olfactory receptors. Inspired by the physical properties of mucus that enable it to transport molecules despite its high viscosity, we developed a polymeric organogel with similar viscosity and analyzed its general performance. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, we confirmed that the matrix viscosity mainly affects the absorption and retention of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and not their diffusion inside the matrix. Additionally, the vapor pressure of VOCs influences the absorption and retention efficiencies of the matrix. Finally, a detailed understanding of the properties of mucus along with the use of sol-gel transition enabled us to create an efficient VOC absorbent and retention agent.
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