Major and minor compounds in a Mexican spirit, young Mezcal coming from two Agave species

• Published in: Czech Journal of Food Sciences 2010-01, Vol.28 (2), p.127-132
• Main Authors: Vera-Guzman, A.M.,Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Oaxaca (Mexico), Guzman-Geronimo, R.I.,Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa (Mexico). Instituto de Ciencias Basicas, Lopez, M.G.,Centro de Investigacion y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Irapuato (Mexico)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACETATE; ACETATES; ACETATOS; ACETIC ACID; ACIDE ACETIQUE; ACIDE BUTYRIQUE; ACIDE CAPRIQUE; ACIDE LAURIQUE; ACIDE OCTANOIQUE; ACIDO ACETICO; ACIDO BUTIRICO; ACIDO CAPRICO; ACIDO LAURICO; ACIDO OCTANOICO; Agave; AGAVE ANGUSTIFOLIA; agave angustifolia haw; agave potatorum zucc; AGUARDIENTES; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; Alcohols; BEBIDAS ALCOHOLICAS; BOISSON ALCOOLISEE; BUTANOL; BUTYRIC ACID; CAPRIC ACID; CETONAS; CETONE; CHEMICAL COMPOSITION; CHROMATOGRAPHIE EN PHASE GAZEUSE; Chromatography; COMPOSE VOLATIL; COMPOSICION QUIMICA; COMPOSITION CHIMIQUE; COMPUESTO VOLATIL; CROMATOGRAFIA DE GASES; EAU DE VIE; ESPECTROMETRIA DE MASAS; ESTER; ESTERES; ESTERS; ETANOL; ETHANOL; Ethyl acetate; FURANE; FURANOS; FURANS; FURFURAL; GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY; gc-fid; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_10677; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_11097; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1168; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_12421; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_12521; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1281; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_16983; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_178; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1794; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24029; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_248; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24933; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2671; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_27473; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_28526; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_32036; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4093; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4226; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7309; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_79; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_80; KETONES; LAURIC ACID; MASS SPECTROMETRY; Mass spectroscopy; METANOL; METHANOL; mezcal; OCTANOIC ACID; PROPANOL; Scientific imaging; Solid phase methods; Solid phases; SPECTROMETRIE DE MASSE; Spectroscopy; SPIRITS; spme-gc-ms; VOLATILE COMPOUNDS
• ISSN: 1212-1800; 1805-9317
• DOI: 10.17221/56/2009-cjfs

Major and minor compounds in a traditional Mexican spirit, young mezcal from Agave angustifolia and Agave potatorum, were characterised using gas chromatography and solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A large variability in both mezcal samples was detected in the content of methanol, higher alcohols, acetic acid, and ethyl acetate. However, their values were below the maximum concentration permitted by the Mexican Standards. The minor compounds identified by mass spectrometry included alcohols, esters, ketones, acids, and furanes. The similarities found between mezcal from Agave angustifolia and Agave potatorum may be due to their processing methods. In addition, mezcals contain unique compounds that can be used as markers to identify the products of different origins.