Interactions between volatiles and lipids in complex systems

Partition equilibria of three aroma compounds in three different biphasic systems were studied by a liquid/liquid partition technique to investigate interactions that occur between volatiles and lipids in biphasic solutions. The lipids used were linoleic acid and ricinoleic acid and tetradecane as a model. The three aroma compounds were ethyl acetate, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, and oct-1-en-3-ol. The results showed that the intermolecular forces involved were weak. Infrared spectroscopy was then performed on binary systems (tetradecane and linoleic acid or aroma compound) and on ternary systems (tetradecane, linoleic acid, and aroma compound) to determine the nature of the interactions. This method confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonds between linoleic acid and 2,5-dimethylpyrazine or oct-1-en-3-ol and also between molecules of oct-1-en-3-ol when the latter are present at high concentrations in lipids. The observations provided sufficient information to explain the behavior of oct-1-en-3-ol in biphasic solutions, but further work is needed to fully elucidate the nature of interactions between ethyl acetate or 2,5-dimethylpyrazine and lipids and also to explain the behavior of these compounds in biphasic solutions.