Volatile components were isolated from popcorn
which was popped conventionally in oil and without
oil in a microwave oven. Techniques employing
popper headspace gas entrainment and vacuum
steam distillation of a slurry of ground popped corn
were used. The aqueous condensate and vacuum
distillate were extracted with diethyl ether, and concentrated
ether extracts were analyzed by a coupled
gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer utilizing
packed and capillary columns. Thirty-six compounds
were identified by comparison of their
spectra with reference spectra. Relative retention
time coincidence with known compounds served to
confirm the mass spectral identifications. Another
20 compounds were tentatively identified by mass
spectrometry. Compounds believed to make important
contributions to the flavor and aroma of
popcorn are pyrazines, furans, pyrroles, carbonyls,
and substituted phenols.