[Characterization of Syrian Virgin Olive Oil by Their Volatile Composition Using Headspace- Solid Phase Micro extraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Technique]

The study was conducted on six samples of virgin olive oils from Syrian markets (Hama, Aleppo, Daraa, Lattakia, Homs and Adlib). Headspace/ Solid phase micro extraction technique was used to extract the volatile compounds which they are responsible for flavor of olive oil. These compounds were identified and characterized by Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The study aimed to characterize Syrian olive oils by their volatile compounds and to investigate the relation ship between the quality indices (Free acidity, Peroxide value, Iodine value, Fatty acid composition and specific ultraviolet absorbance K270) and their volatile compounds; the results were compared with data published in the references. For the extra virgin olive oil and the first kind virgin olive oil, the results showed that the quality indices of Hama and Lattakia, s samples didn't, t agree with Syrian Standards 2000/182, Therefor,These tow samples were excluded from the study, Lattakia,s sample was excluded for its high acidity (9.87% as oleic acid) and the same for Hama's sample but now it was excluded for its high ultraviolet absorbance ( K270 = 0.66), And the concentration of fatty acids of Hama, s sample didn't agree with the Syrian standards 2000/182. The other samples were characterized by their quality indices: Adlib, s, Homs, s and Aleppo, s sample were extra virgin olive oil type but Daraa, s sample was first kind virgin olive oil For the analysis results of fatty acids composition showed that the concentration of fatty acids of Homs, Aleppo, Adlib, Daraa and Lattakia samples agreed with the Syrian Standards 2000/182 and the differences mostly come from other reasons such as fruit ripening cycle, effect of climate and soil type, environmental conditions, genetic factor, fruit quality and oil extraction system. For analysis of volatile compounds, fourty three volatile compounds were isolated and characterized. These compounds agreed with data published in the references, they included saturated and unsaturated aromatic and terpenic hydrocarbons as well as Aldehydes, Alcohols, Ketones, Esters and Furans. The Samples of research showed somewhat of similarity about the kind of volatile compounds but the different was in the concentration of these compounds, except Hama's one relating the content of volatile compounds. The analysis results of volatile compound agreed with characterization of Samples by their quality indices. It was noticed that the essential volatile compounds of the samples was Aldehydes then fatty acids esters and hydrocarbons. The study showed that the Solid phase micro extraction / gas chromatography was simple and effective technique, and it has several important advantages compared to other methods.