L. M. Seitz, M. Ram
Aug 6, 2000
Citations
1
Influential Citations
21
Citations
Journal
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
Abstract
More than 20 volatile methoxybenzene compounds were found in a set of 745 corn, sorghum, soybean, and wheat samples obtained from official grain inspectors. Most samples containing methoxybenzenes were off-odor. By using an autosampler, volatiles were purged from whole grain at 80 degrees C, collected on Tenax, and then thermally desorbed and transferred to a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer for separation and identification. Use of an infrared detector aided identification of some compounds, especially isomers with similar mass spectra. Samples with insect odor had 1,4-dimethoxybenzene and its 2-methyl, 2-ethyl, and 2-methoxy derivatives that appeared to be derived from 1,4-quinones, which are known (except for 2-methoxy) defensive secretions of Tribolium insects. Samples with mostly musty, sour, and/or smoke odors commonly contained methoxybenzene and 1, 2-dimethoxybenzene along with their 4-ethyl and 4-ethenyl derivatives, 4-chloro-1-methoxybenzene, and/or 2-methoxyphenol and its 4-ethyl derivative. Other methoxybenzenes were also found, including methoxy derivatives of other phenols and N-heterocyclic compounds. Co-occurrences and correlations of levels of some compounds were also reported to indicate relationships with odors and inter-relationships among compounds.