Fish is among the healthiest foods on the planet. It is loaded with important nutrients, such as protein and vitamin D. The Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that about one billion people worldwide rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein because of which aquaculture is a major industry. Aquaculture can be defined as the high-density production of fish and plant forms in a controlled environment. Although there is a great diversity among culture systems, pond culture is the most commonly used system.

However, it was reported that nuisance odor, especially musty odor in the water sources used for purposes, such as agriculture, water supply, food industry, and fisheries, is a worldwide problem.

The maintenance of good water quality is essential for both survival and optimum growth of culture organisms. Want to know more about water contamination and how to improve the quality of water? Visit the following link: https://books.google.co.in/books/about/Pond_Aquaculture_Water_Quality_Managemen.html?id=Sz4RYEyH5DsC

In aquaculture activities, the problem facing the production was the accumulation of off-flavor in fish flesh caused by the presence of organic compounds in water and soil. The most troublesome odors are Geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) associated with cyanobacteria which are difficult to remove from the pond water.

2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and Geosmin (GSM) are algae with muddy/musty odors which contaminate water supplies and can also be absorbed by aquatic organisms. Even humans can contract them from water and aquatic food products.

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To detect and analyze such compounds electronic noses have interested developers of neural networks and artificial intelligence algorithms for some time, yet physical sensors have limited performance because of overlapping responses and physical instability. eNoses cannot separate or quantify the chemistry of aromas.

Therefore, a new type of electronic nose, called zNose, based on ultra-fast gas chromatography, simulates an almost unlimited number of specific virtual chemical sensors, and produces olfactory images based upon aroma chemistry.

To quantify and detect 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and Geosmin (GSM) in pond water using zNose, instead of using various kinds of methods only a field portable method is used because the samples are small, only picogram quantities of MIB and geosmin can be collected. The effects of contaminants are greatly reduced because much larger quantities of water are used and the test is performed outdoors thus avoiding the relatively high levels of ambient air contaminants.

Hence, by using this rapid aroma profiling instrument, it is easier and faster to detect and quantify bacteria’s like MIB and Geosmin in pond water as they are the most troublesome odors which contaminate water supplies.