Journal of chromatography. A
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The objective of this paper is to investigate the potential of multiple headspace-solid-phase microextraction (MHS-SPME) for the determination of volatile compounds in complex matrix samples. A method based on MHS-SPME for the determination of around 20 volatile compounds, responsible of tomato flavour and aroma has been developed and validated, using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (ion trap analyser) for analysis. For this purpose, the experimental beta parameter, resulting from the MHS-SPME theoretical development, has been obtained from real sample analysis (in triplicate) for each identified compound, carrying out up to 5 consecutive extractions. ⋯ Limits of detection were in the range of 0.25-5 ng/g. MHS-SPME has been proved to be an adequate technique to avoid matrix effects in complex samples quantitation. Its applicability to the determination of volatile tomato components, together with its limitations, is discussed in this article.