Studies on the aroma of cupuassu liquor by headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography

Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled to gas chromatography with ion trap mass spectrometric detection and with atomic emission detection (GC–AED) was employed to identify possible odor-impact volatile organic compounds in cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum Spreng) liquor, as well as to quantify alkylpyrazines present in these samples. SPME fibers coated with 100 μm polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), 65 μm PDMS–divinylbenzene (DVB) and 75 μm Carboxen (CAR)–PDMS were tested, the later being chosen for the optimized extraction procedure. The principal compounds found in the sample headspace were 3-methylbutanal, dimethylsulfide, dimethyldisulfide, β-linalool and several alkylpyrazines (notably tetramethylpyrazine). The procedure for quantitation of the alkylpyrazines, using GC–AED for their separation and detection, allowed the detection of μg g−1 levels of the analytes in the samples, with acceptable precision (R.S.D. less than 10%).