SPME Fiber Evaluation for Volatile Organic Compounds Extraction from Acerola

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were isolated from acerola fruits (Malpighia emarginata D.C.), by means of different solid phase microextraction (SPME) fibers. For the extraction, the headspace SPME method was used, identifying the VOCs by gas chromatography (GC) with mass spectrometry (MS). The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of SPME fibers and determine the best conditions for extracting VOCs from acerola fruit. The investigated conditions were: extraction time (20, 30 and 40 min), extraction temperature (25, 45 and 65 ºC) and agitation (0, 50 and 100 rpm). Of the evaluated fibers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)/divinylbenzene (DVB) extracted the highest number of VOCs, most belonging to terpene, carboxylic acids and hydrocarbons. According to the investigated conditions, most compounds were obtained with an extraction time of 20 min, extraction temperature 65 ºC, and no agitation. Compounds cumene, o-xylene, thymol, m-cymene, o-cymene, 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, anethol, 3-buten-2-one and methyl octadecanoic ester were responsible for the volatile profile of acerola.