Rapid quantification and comparison of major volatile compounds of ciders from France (Normandy and Brittany) using microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS)

Microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS) was used for the determination of the volatile composition of 29 French cider samples from two regions: Normandy and Brittany. Extractions using a C18 sorbent were followed by GC-MS analyses for the identification of major volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and GC-FID analyses for the quantification of 19 selected major compounds. The method was found to be rapid and linear up to 300 mg L-1 for all compounds with an average relative standard deviation of 8.5% for tests of repeatability at low concentrations. The limit of detection (LOD) is below 0.1 mg L-1 except for three VOCs which exhibited much higher concentrations in samples. No significant difference in concentrations of higher alcohols were observed in the cider samples from two regions, however their concentrations were higher in hard ciders than sweet ciders. Acetates were found to be present more often in sweet ciders from Normandy than those from Brittany reflecting important differences in the yeasts acting during the fermentation.