Use of the enantiomeric composition for the assessment of the authenticity of fruit beverages

Abstract

Enantiomeric compositions of chiral terpenes in commercial fruit beverages were examined by solid phase microextraction−gas chromatography (SPME-GC). Optimization of the method was accomplished on the basis of some parameters involved in the extraction, such as heating temperature and extraction time, that provided the highest peak areas, 60 °C and 2 min being the optimal values. With the proposed method relative standard deviation (RSD) values from three replicates ranging from 2 to 12% were obtained. The enantiomeric distribution of some terpenes remained constant, whereas other terpenes (linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and α-terpineol) exhibited a considerable variation among samples. This can be indicative of the eventual addition of aromas to some fruit beverages.