Headspace analysis in chemical ecology: effects of different sampling methods on ratios of volatile compounds present in headspace samples

The effects that different headspace sampling methods have on the analysis of the ratios of compounds present in the headspace of a synthetic mixture and a biological sample were evaluated using the following methods: solid-phase microextraction (SPME), a syringe, and the porous polymers Porapak Q. Tenax TA, and Hayesep Q (thermal and solvent desorption). The performance of each method was only evaluated for a certain sampling period and under given experimental conditions. The test mixture comprised pentan-3-ol, 4-penten-1-ol, (E)-2-hexenal, hexan-1-ol, heptanal, (1S,5S)-(-)-alpha-pinene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, hexyl acetate, (R)-(+)-limonene, and undecane. SPME gave significantly different ratios of pentan-3-ol, 4-penten-1-ol, hexan-1-ol, heptanal, (1S,5S-(-)alpha-pinene, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, hexyl acetate, limonene, and undecane compared with the other methods. No significant differences were observed between the syringe and the porous polymers or between the three different porous polymers used. The method of release of the trapped analytes from the polymers, thermal or solvent desorption, did not affect the ratios of compounds. The effects that different sampling methods have on the ratios of compounds present in the headspace of a biological sample, ripe banana, were evaluated. The headspace was sampled using SPME and the porous polymers Porapak Q and Tenax TA (thermal desorption). The following compounds were identified in the headspace of ripe bananas: 2-methylbutyl acetate, pentyl acetate, 2-methylbutyl propanoate, butyl butanoate, and pentyl butanoate. SPME gave significantly different ratios of 2-methylbutyl acetate, pentyl acetate, butyl butanoate, and pentyl butanoate when compared to Porapak Q and Tenax TA. No significant differences on the ratios of compounds present in the headspace of ripe banana were observed when the two polymers were compared. The use of different sampling methods in headspace analysis of biological samples is discussed.