Analysis of 2,4,6-trichloroanisole in wines using solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Cork taint in wine is a serious problem which is exacerbated by the difficulty of its assessment. Current analytical procedures are costly, time consuming and require the use of large amounts of solvents. We developed and evaluated a rapid method for the detection of the cork taint compound, 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), in wine samples. The method employs solid-phase microextraction, a solventless, automated sampling procedure, coupled to GC-MS-selected ion monitoring analysis. Quantification is enabled by a fully deuterated [ 2H 5]TCA analog used as an internal standard. Accuracy (±8%), precision (R.S.D. 5–13%), and limit of quantification (5 ng/l) are comparable to existing methods.