Evaluation of headspace solid-phase microextraction for the analysis of volatile carbonyl compounds in spirits and alcoholic beverages

A method was developed for the determination of C1–C6 carbonyl compounds in alcoholic solutions using pentafluorobenzoxymation followed by headspace sampling solid-phase microextraction and subsequent analysis by GC with electron-capture detection. Experimental conditions—alcohol content, exposure time, temperature and sample agitation were optimised. In this method, a spirit or distilled alcoholic beverage is first adjusted to 20% (v/v) alcohol. Detection limits for particular aldehydes and ketone varied from 0.05 to 0.5 μg/l and relative standard deviation was between 2.3 and 20%. Generally, the method showed good linearity for the tested concentration range 8 μg/l–0.32 mg/l with regression coefficients ranging between 0.9434 and 0.9983. The method was applied to the analysis of real alcoholic beverages (vodkas).