Volatile and semi-volatile components of oak wood chips analysed by Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS)

Volatile and semi-volatile compounds of French and American oak wood used in wine and spirits ageing were extracted by an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. More than 90 compounds were isolated, characterised and quantified after being separated on two chromatographic columns with distinct polarity. The main oak wood components were quantitatively determined by using standard reference compounds. In addition, a number of compounds, mainly guaiacol and syringol derivatives, were detected and characterised. In particular, 10 compounds were tentatively identified as lignin dimers derivatives, whose presence in oak wood chips or barrels for wine and spirits ageing had not been previously described. Several of the characterised compounds enabled a distinction to be drawn between medium and high toasted wood chips, independently of their geographical origin.