Concentration in Porapak Q Column of Volatile Compounds in Sake for Analysis

A column packed with Porapak Q resin was used for the analysis of volatile compounds in sake. For 10 ml of resin, the most appropriate sample volume was 100∼200 ml. When a model solution of 17% ethanol containing five representative volatile compounds in sake was assayed, the amounts of the compounds recovered by this method correlated well with the amounts added to the solution. By the column method, ordinary sake was found to give 84 peaks, 77 of which were identified. By extraction with dichloromethane or a 2: 1 (v/v) mixture of diethyl ether and pentane, 56 and 53 peaks, respectively, were detected. The recovery of highly polar compounds such as alcohols and lactones by the column method was no better than that by solvent extraction. However, the column method was better than solvent extraction in reproducibility and the number of detected peaks. Porapak Q columns are better for analysis of the volatile compounds in sake, since there is no interference from the ethanol. The method is simple and rapid.