Development of a fast gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for volatile aromatic compound analysis in oenological products

Aroma plays an important role in food quality, and knowledge of volatile composition is essential to support technological choices during industrial transformation processes. In this study, an innovative GC-MS/MS method useful for fast analysis of the broad aroma profile of oenological products was developed. Fifty volatile compounds of oenological interest belonging to the main chemical classes (acetates, acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ketones, phenols, terpenes, and thiols) were identified and quantified in a single chromatographic run taking only 15minutes. The high sensitivity of the mass spectrometer, combined with accurate fast chromatography performed with a suitable capillary column, allowed us to avoid further concentration steps after solid phase extraction. Validation of the method was performed in relation to the limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity range, repeatability, reproducibility, and recovery. Once validated, the method was successfully tested on commercial oenological samples, demonstrating its applicability to fast routine multiaroma analysis.