Research and Development of New Processes for the Isolation of Volatile Aromatic Substances from Natural Materials

This review presents available techniques used for the separation and subsequent identification of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from complex plant matrices. The first part defines the plant material as well as the VOC and their using in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries with specific examples. The next section relates to the most widely used techniques to separate VOCs from complex matrices, where the advantages, disadvantages and comparisons described differ according to their basic principles. Classical extraction, distillation or adsorption methods, as well as "green" membrane procedures are mentioned. The last part describes the method of identification of separated aromatic VOCs by gas chromatography, comprehensive gas chromatography, olfactometry, and the lesser -known electronic nose. The review provides comprehensive information about available methodologies for obtaining aromatic VOCs from sample pretreatment to analyses and identification.