Commentary: Selected factors influencing quantitative HS-SPME analyses of volatile compounds in alcoholic beverages

This commentary serves as an aid in HS-SPME analysis of food volatiles, particularly in alcoholic beverages, by examining key phenomena that occur when commonly used polymer-based SPME fibers are selected for analysis. Presented experiments were designed using two model compounds: 3-methyl-1-butanol and ethyl octanoate, characterized by different physicochemical properties, analyzed in an aqueous matrix containing low ethanol levels. The study explores the displacement on the SPME fiber, as well as the influence of matrix composition. Additionally, it compares adsorptive fiber coatings (CAR/DVB/PDMS) with absorptive coatings (PEG) to highlight the difference in extraction behavior. The goal of this paper was to demonstrate the source of “unexpected” results obtained during SPME extraction, and further propose some possible solutions of these challenges.