CHARACTERIZATION OF COLD-PRESSED KEY AND PERSIAN LIME OILS BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY, GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY MASS-SPECTROSCOPY, HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY, AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL INDEXES

The physicochemical indices and the qualitative and quantitative compo sition of the volatile fraction and the oxygenated heterocyclic fracti on of cold-pressed Key lime oil (types A and B) and Persian lime oil a re reported. The volatile fraction of Persian lime oil is characterize d by a higher content of limonene, gamma-terpinene, esters, and monote rpene aldehydes and a lower content of beta-pinene + sabinene, sesquit erpenes, and aliphatic aldehydes than Key lime oils. Oxypeucedanin was not detected in Key lime oil type A, while it is present in Key lime oil type B and Persian lime oil. This is probably due to the extractio n technology used for Key lime oil type A? which allows the essential oil to come into contact with the juice. Under these conditions, the e poxy ring of oxypeucedanin is opened by hydrolysis to form oxypeucedan in hydrate.