Automated HPLC‐HRGC: A powerful method for essential oils analysis. Part V. identification of terpene hydrocarbons of bergamot, lemon, mandarin, sweet orange, bitter orange, grapefruit, clementine and mexican lime oils by coupled HPLC‐HRGC‐MS(ITD)

A fully automated HPLC‐HRGC‐MS(ITD) system was used for the analysis of the terpene hydrocarbon fraction of eight essential oils: bergamot, lemon, mandarin, sweet orange, bitter orange, grapefruit, clementine and Mexican lime. The system allows the isolation by LC of the hydrocarbon fraction followed by transfer into the GC and identification of the single components by MS(ITD). LC‐GC‐MS coupling gives more accurate results than those obtained from GC‐MS analysis of the whole essential oil. The results obtained were compared with those reported in the literature, and represent a reference for the characterization of the citrus essential oils.