An unattended HS-SPME-GC-MS/MS combined with a novel sample preparation strategy for the reliable quantitation of C8 volatiles in mushrooms: A sample preparation strategy to fully control the volatile emission

Eight carbon (C8) compounds are the key characteristic flavors of mushrooms. The quantitative analysis of the volatiles in mushrooms is challenging especially with the unattended HS-SPME-GC-MS. An unattended HSSPME-GC-MS/MS in combination with novel sample preparation of the complete control of volatile emissions was developed for the quantitation of the C8 volatiles in mushrooms. The sample preparation strategy was composed of freeze-drying, rehydration, and the addition of a 15% citric acid solution. With this strategy, the volatile emission from mushroom was fully controlled at a certain time point. This method was found to be highly reliable, sensitive, precise, and accurate. This method was successfully applied to measure the contents of the C8 volatiles in the beech, button, and shiitake mushrooms. 1-Octene-3-ol was the most predominant compound in the mushrooms, representing 62.4, 69.0, and 89.2% of the total C8 volatiles in the beech, button, and shiitake mushrooms, respectively.

Automated summary

The study developed an automated HSSPME-GC-MS/MS method for the quantitation of C8 volatiles in mushrooms, which achieved complete control of volatile emissions through a specific sample preparation strategy. Results showed that this method was highly reliable, sensitive, precise, and accurate.