Volatile components analysis of Camellia oleifera shells and related products based on HS-SPME-GC-MS

• Odor of Camellia oleifera shells and the corresponding particleboard were studied. • Headspace-solid phase microextraction method was used to analyze the volatile components. • M−cresol, borneol, and n -decanal are the major odor substances of Camellia oleifera shells. The headspace-solid phase microextraction method with the off-flavor database was used to establish odor components in Camellia oleifera shells (COS) and the corresponding particleboard (PB). The concentration of the odor components remarkably varied in fresh COS compared with dry shell and particleboard, owing to the reaction of volatile aroma compounds during drying and hot pressing. Relative odor activity value (ROAV) analysis was used to compare the key and characteristic aroma components of different products. There were four key aroma compounds found in fresh COS, which were m-cresol, p-cresol, borneol, and 2,3-xylenol; 16 found in dry COS, including 2-nonenal, n -decanal, geraniol, borneol, etc.; and 13 found in COS PB, including n -decanal, 2-nonenal, vanillin, isoeugenol, etc. Among them, m-cresol, p-cresol, 2-nonenal, n -decanal and 2,3-xylenol may be the main difference in fresh COS with dry COS and COS PB. The spatial distribution region of principal component analysis reflects the variances among samples. During the drying of the COS, the gradual peroxidation or reduction of fatty acids through lipoxygenases affect the content of the aroma substances, which leads to the difference of the compounds among samples. This study helps to realize the utilization of Camellia oleifera shells as a new interior decoration and building material by providing basic information on aroma substances.