Characterization of volatile components according to fermentation periods in Gamdongchotmoo kimchi

The volatile components in Gamdongchotmoo kimchi, unfermented and fermented for 3 or 25 days, were extracted via solvent-assisted flavor evaporation (SAFE), and then analyzed via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GCMS). A total of 57 components, including 14 S-containing compounds, 22 terpene hydrocarbons, 13 aliphatic hydrocarbons, 4 alcohols, and 4 miscellaneous components, were detected in Gamdongchotmoo kimchi. Among them, the S-compounds were quantitatively dominant. The aroma-active compounds were also determined via gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). A total of 16 aroma-active compounds were detected via GC-O. The most intense aroma-active compounds in Gamdongchotmoo kimchi included 4-isothiocyanato-1-butene (Log₃ FD factor 7, rancid), an unknown(Log₃ FD factor 7, spicy) and another unknown (Log₃ FD factor 7, seasoning-like). In addition, other aroma-active compounds, including dimethyldisulfide (Log₃ FD factor 6, rotten onion-like/sulfury), 2-vinyl- [4H]-1,3-dithiin (Log₃ FD factor 5, spicy/garlic-like), and an unknown (Log₃ FD factor 5, rancid/cheese-like) might be crucial to the flavor characteristics of Gamdongchotmoo kimchi.