Novel and Precise Method to Isolate, Identify, and Quantify Volatile Compounds in Headspace of Pear Juice Enriched with α-Cyclodextrin

The combination headspace solid phase micro-extraction + gas chromatography–mass spectrometry + gas chromatography with flame ionization detector was successfully used in quantitative determination of the instrumental odor of pear juice. Esters, aldehydes, alcohols, and terpenes were the major chemical families of the pear juice odor. Twenty-six were identified and quantified, with propyl acetate, hexyl acetate, 2-methyl-1-butanol, and butyl acetate being the major compounds. α-Cyclodextrins (CD) significantly improved the color of pear juice, leading to higher values of L* and lower of scores of a*, b*, and ΔE*. However, α-CD also reduced the total concentration of volatiles in the headspace of the juice by creating inclusion complexes with volatiles; after 40 min of oxidation, total volatiles were 8.2 and 3.4 mg L−1 in control and α-CD-treated juices, respectively. But in summary, the global quality (joint consideration of the main sensory attributes) was improved by the addition of α-CD (6.9 compared to 5.2).