Volatile and semi-volatile components of oak wood chips analysed by Accelereated 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 extarcted by an Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE) and analysed by gas chromatography-mass specrtrometry. More 90 compounds were isolated, characterised and quantified after being separeted on two chromatographyc columns with distinct polarity. The main oak wood components were 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, indipendently of their geographical orogin.