DETERMINAÇÃO DA COMPOSIÇÃO VOLÁTIL DE MÉIS DE ABELHAS SEM FERRÃO ATRAVÉS DE CROMATOGRAFIA GASOSA ACOPLADA A ESPECTROMETRIA DE MASSAS E EXTRAÇÃO POR HEADSPACE ESTÁTICO

Abstract

The volatile composition of Brazilian honeys from eight species of stingless bees, which occurred in Paraná state, was analyzed by gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric (GC-MS) using the static headspace technique as extraction method. The extraction was carried out in saline solution with headspace incubation for 10 min at 60 °C followed by injection in the GC-MS. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed as a multivariate technique to compare the chemical composition of the volatile fraction of honeys from different stingless bee species and different geographic origins. A total of 44 volatile compounds were identified based on comparison of the obtained spectra with those of the NIST library and were confirmed, when possible, by using Kovats retention index relative to a series of n-alkanes (C8–C40). Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, esters, alcohols, ketones and aldehydes were the major classes of compounds in the volatile fraction of stingless bees honey and linalool oxides (cis e trans) occurred in all samples. The results of ACP demonstrated that volatile compounds in honeys from stingless bees differ according to geographic region and the species of producer bees.