Validation of Essential oils’ Gas Chromatography, Mass Spectrometry Compositional Analysis Using System Independent Parameters; Kovat Index and Fragmentation Pattern

Abstract

One of the challenges in determination of essential oils components using GSMS is the variation of the retention time observed. Kovat index was calculated for each compound identified in eight essential oils samples while the fragmentation pattern of four compounds were illustrated. Kovat index shows, P-xylene has 809 KI, α-pinene 934 and another value of 905. In some oil samples KI value for Limonene is 938, α- Phellandrene has 932 and another value of 933 which occurred at slightly higher retention time of 6.659. Caryophyllene has the lager KI value of 1254 and is consistent in all the samples of the essential oils. The fragmentation pattern for P-xylene, α-pinene, caryophyllene and 1-octen-3-ol were illustrated. The justification of each peak in the mass spectra and the consistency in the values of Kovat index have validated the results obtained from GCMS analysis of the essential oils understudy.