Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Paired with Total Vaporization Solid-Phase Microextraction as a Forensic Tool
Published on: May 25, 2021
Analysis of volatile thiols in alcoholic beverages by simultaneous derivatization/extraction and liquid
Stefania Vichi1, Nuria Cortés-Francisco1, Josep Caixach2
1Food Science and Nutrition Department, XaRTA (Catalonian Reference Network on Food Technology), University of Barcelona, Food and Nutrition Torribera Campus, Av. Prat de la Riba, 171, 08921 S.ta Coloma de Gramenet, Spain.
Abstract:
A simultaneous derivatization/extraction method followed by liquid chromatography-electrospray-high resolution mass spectrometry for the determination of volatile thiols in hydroalcoholic matrixes was optimized and used to identify and quantify volatile thiols in wine and beer samples. The method was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, precision, accuracy and selectivity. The experimental LOQs of eleven thiols tested ranged between 0.01 ng/L and 10 ng/L. Intra-day relative standard deviation (RSD) was in general lower than 10% and inter-day RSD ranged between 10% and 30%. Recovery in the model and real matrixes ranged from 45% to 129%. The method was then applied for the analysis of four white wines and six beers. Five out of the eleven reference thiols were identified and quantified in the samples analyzed. The non-target approach, carried out by monitoring the diagnostic ion at m/z 275.9922 [C13H10ONSe](+) in the fragmentation spectrum, allowed detecting, in the same samples, fourteen non-target thiols.
Related Concept Videos
Mass Spectrometry: Alcohol Fragmentation
Preparation and Reactions of Thiols
Volatilization
Mass Spectrometry: Complex Analysis
GC–MS is a powerful hyphenated method commonly used in forensics and environmental...
Qualitative Analysis
There are two main approaches to qualitative analysis:...

