IDENTIFICATION BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS -SPECTROMETRY OF DEGRADATION PRODUCTS FROM LINOLEIC-ACID HYDROPEROXIDES

The complex lipids containing unsaturated fatty acids autoxidize to le ad to hydroperoxides. These unstable compounds decompose, in course of time, to volatile molecules with bad smell. Therefore, they can be a potential source of off-flavour. The presence of metallic catalyzers i nduces their transformation to 2,4-decadienal and to oxononanoic and t o oxodecanoic acids, When the concentration of unsaturated acids is su fficient, the degradation products of the hydroperoxides and particula rly the decadienals, can affect significantly the organoleptic propert ies of the alcoholic beverages. The degradation products of the hydrop eroxides have been identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry coupling.