Profile of the Volatile Aroma in Bergamot by Comprehensive Two-Dimensional Gas Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry/Olfactometry

Abstract

This study characterized the volatile aroma of bergamot by headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with comprehensive two-dimensional chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry The aroma-active compounds were also characterized using gas chromatography – olfactometry. A total of 323 volatile compounds and 29 aroma-active compounds were identified. Additionally, bergamot was shown to contain higher concentrations of alkenes (67), alcohols (63), esters (59), and ketones (36). Due to the higher peak capacity and separation resolution, comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry detected 218 more compounds than gas chromatography – mass spectrometry. The key characteristic volatiles of bergamot included α-terpineol, isobornyl formate, α-phellandrene dimer, furfural, and o-acetyltoluene. Volatile profiles may be a reference for subsequent work on the identification and quality appraisal of bergamot and its products.