AUTHOR=Harman-Ware Anne E. , Sykes Robert , Peter Gary F. , Davis Mark TITLE=Determination of Terpenoid Content in Pine by Organic Solvent Extraction and Fast-GC Analysis JOURNAL=Frontiers in Energy Research VOLUME=4 YEAR=2016 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/energy-research/articles/10.3389/fenrg.2016.00002 DOI=10.3389/fenrg.2016.00002 ISSN=2296-598X ABSTRACT=

Terpenoids, naturally occurring compounds derived from isoprene units present in pine oleoresin, are a valuable source of chemicals used in solvents, fragrances, flavors, and have shown potential use as a biofuel. This paper describes a method to extract and analyze the terpenoids present in loblolly pine saplings and pine lighter wood. Various extraction solvents were tested over different times and temperatures. Samples were analyzed by pyrolysis-molecular beam mass spectrometry before and after extractions to monitor the extraction efficiency. The pyrolysis studies indicated that the optimal extraction method used a 1:1 hexane/acetone solvent system at 22°C for 1 h. Extracts from the hexane/acetone experiments were analyzed using a low thermal mass modular accelerated column heater for fast-GC/FID analysis. The most abundant terpenoids from the pine samples were quantified, using standard curves, and included the monoterpenes, α- and β-pinene, camphene, and δ-carene. Sesquiterpenes analyzed included caryophyllene, humulene, and α-bisabolene. Diterpenoid resin acids were quantified in derivatized extractions, including pimaric, isopimaric, levopimaric, palustric, dehydroabietic, abietic, and neoabietic acids.