HEADSPACE ANALYSIS OF VOLATILE COMPOUNDS EMITTED FROM VARIOUS CITRUS BLOSSOMS

Thermal desorption is routinely used to release the adsorbed volatile compounds in the headspace analysis, but it requires so much heat to complete the desorption that it frequently causes the isomerization and/or decomposition of thermally fragile compounds. The solvent desorption method was proved to be more convenient and versatile for the component analysis and the sensory evaluation of the volatiles emitted by plants. The compositions of volatiles emitted by the blossoms of thirteen citrus species were analyzed by this method. The comparison of analytical results explained partially the close relationship of the morphological classification of these plants. On the other hand, the compositional resemblance was found between the headspace sample and the essential oil of C aurantium L.