Techniques for gas chromatography of volatile terpenoids from a range of matrices.

The commercial importance of the volatile mono- and sesqui-terpenoids has resulted in a wide range of techiques being used for extraction, concentration, chromatography, and characterisation of constituents. The major chromatographic technique is gas chromatography, and tandem techniques of chromatography linked to further chromatography and spectroscopy, allow much increased resolution, and greater ease of characterisation of terpenes. A wide range of extraction techniques are discussed, and suitability for particular matrices and sample sizes outlined. Chromatography operating conditions and stationary phases, and techniques for solute identification are laid out. A number of applications of terpene analysis in many different matrices are discussed.