Characterization of olive oil volatiles by multi-step direct thermal desorption–comprehensive gas chromatography–time-of-flight mass spectrometry using a programmed temperature vaporizing injector

The feasibility of a versatile system for multi-step direct thermal desorption (DTD) coupled to comprehensive gas chromatography (GC × GC) with time-of-flight mass spectrometric (TOF-MS) detection is studied. As an application the system is used for the characterization of fresh versus aged olive oil after treatment at 70, 175, 250 and 600 °C.