Headspace Sorptive Extraction (HSSE) in the headspace analysis of aromaticand medicinal plants

A new sampling technique, Headspace Sorptive Extraction (HSSE), is here app lied for the first time to the headspace sampling of medicinal and aromatic plants. The analyte partition coefficient between HSSE-PDMS stir bar and s ample headspace (K-1), the concentration factor (CF), the reproducibility, and the minimum recoverable amount were determined by analyzing standard so lution of high volatility C-5-C-7 compounds with different polarities and s tructures (cyclohexane, propyl acetate, hexanal, 1-hexen-3-ol, isoamyl acet ate, and 2-heptanol). Four aromatic and medicinal plants, viz. rosemary (Ro smarinus officinalis L,), sage (Salvia officinalis L,), thyme (Thymus vulga ris L,), and valerian (Valeriana officinalis L,) were analyzed by HSSE-GC w ith PDMS stir bars, and their concentration capacity was compared with thos e of S-HS and HS-SPME with different fibers, HSSE showed very high concentr ation capability with both standard and real sample components.