The volatile components were extracted from kumquat(Fortunella margarita) by simultaneous steam distillation-extraction method and fractionated on silica gel column. The total volatile oil was eluted off first by n-pentane and eluted again by diethyl ether. The total volatile oil and diethyl ether fraction were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. In the total volatile oil, 10 components were identified, of which major ones were limonene(96.5% of total volatile oil), ¥â-pinene(1.93%) and ¥á-terpineol(0.42%) and then the characteristic aroma of kumquat appeared to be due to limonene. On the other hand diethyl ether fraction, from which 46 components were identified, contained 9 alcohols, 22 terpenes and terpene alcohols, 7 aldehydes and ketones, 7 esters and 1 miscellaneous components. The major components were ¥á-terpineol(31.98% of diethyl ether fraction), ¥â-terpineol(7.37%), geranyl acetate(9.69%) and p-menthadien-9-ol(4.12%).
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