Robustness test of a headspace solid-phase microextraction method for the determination of chloroanisoles and chlorophenols related to cork taint in wine using experimental design

A robustness test of a solid-phase microextraction-based method optimised for the simultaneous determination of chloroanisoles and acetyl-chlorophenols implicated in the presence of corky taste in wine has been carried out using a hybrid experimental design. The influence of small changes around the nominal level of four factors (Vs/Vt ratio, extraction temperature, exposure time and sample incubation time) on the measured response were evaluated in order to indicate if the method is robust for the experimental range considered. Moreover, it was also necessary to identify the critical parameters in the validated model in order to keep them under strict control. Experimental design provides an effective approach for robustness testing as a part of the analytical method validation.