ItalianCitrusPetitgrain Oils. Part III. Composition of Sweet Orange Petitgrain Oil

Abstract The composition of Italian sweet orange petitgrain oil was studied by LC-GC/MS (ITD), GC/MS (quadrupole) and GC systems with SE-52 and Carbowax 20 M GC columns. Industrial samples and laboratory samples from leaves of the cultivars Valencia late, Biondo comune and Moro were analyzed. Sweet orange oils are characterized by a higher content of monoterpene hydrocarbons of which sabinene (38–49%) was the major component, and a lower content of oxygenated compounds than other Citrus petitgrain oils. Industrial samples of sweet orange petitgrain oil are often contaminated by other Citrus petitgrain oils. Because of the low value of sweet orange petitgrain oils little attention is paid to the selection of raw material to be distilled. Laboratory isolated oils show some differences in their composition, mostly for linalool and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons content. All orange petitgrain oils were characterized by the presence of α- and β-sinensal, which are absent in other Citrus petitgrain oils.