Abstract
A readily established method is reported for concentrating headspace volatiles on a bed of the porous polymer, Chromosorb 105. The trapped components are transferred by a desorption technique onto a small plug of SF96 coated support material. The volatiles can then be injected onto a high-resolution gas chromatographic column by a simple process. The apparatus required and the steps involved in the procedure are discussed in detail. The precision of the method for the quantitative determination of alcoholic beverage headspace volatiles is assessed for a range of typical compounds. Examples are given of applications of the technique to the analysis of alcoholic spirits and beverages.