Screening method for petroleum-derived aromatic hydrocarbons in wine

• Published in: Australian journal of grape and wine research Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 17 - 25
• Main Authors: BALDOCK, GAYLE A., HAYASAKA, YOJI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-04-2004
• Subjects: aromatic hydrocarbon; GC-MS; SPME; taint; Vitaceae; wine
• ISSN: 1322-7130; 1755-0238
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-0238.2004.tb00004.x

A novel screening method was developed using gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) combined with headspace‐solid phase microextraction (SPME) for the detection of various aromatic hydrocarbons in wine. Petroleum‐derived products such as toluene, styrene, alkylbenzenes and alkylnaphthalenes were targeted for screening. They were detected by monitoring their characteristic ions (selected ion monitoring) and subsequently quantified using selected deuterium‐labelled internal standards. The individual compounds were detected at levels as low as 1 μg/L in red or white wine. The method developed was rapid, simple, solvent‐free and sensitive. Application of the method to a tainted red wine confirmed the presence and allowed determination of the level of taint hydrocarbons and agreed with the sensory evaluation (kerosene‐like).