Cyclic cataluminescence terpene array sensor based on γ-Al₂O₃/Eu-BTC for rapid hop origin identification

Hops are crucial to beer flavor, but their geographically dispersed origins are prone to confusion, while the significant variation in terpene ratios among hops from different regions provides key support for its origin identification. In this study，γ-Al₂O₃/Eu-BTC composite was synthesized for cyclic cataluminescence array sensor to terpenes. The results showed that the corresponding reaction decay coefficients (k-values) for myrcene, farnesene, and humulene were 24.3, 32.0, and 73.8, respectively, enabling terpene-specific fingerprinting. Binary and ternary terpene mixtures exhibited predictable k-value variations, with relative standard deviations below 9.6%. A rapid detection method for hops identification was developed and successfully applied to 86 samples from six different origins. The method demonstrated both feasibility and accuracy, highlighting its potential as a rapid, simple, and efficient technique for origin identification of hops and other aromatic plants.