This study evaluated the applicability
of a rapid analytical method using a headspace solid-phase microextraction
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS) technique to
identify gamma-irradiated soybeans (0.1–5 kGy). From the partial
least squares discriminant analysis used to discriminate between non-irradiated
and irradiated soybean samples, 1,7-hexadecadiene was selected as
the identifying marker. Response surface methodology experiments were
used to determine the optimal HS-SPME extraction conditions including
a carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane fiber with an extraction temperature
of 98 °C and an extraction time of 55 min. 1,7-Hexdecadiene was detected
in all samples irradiated at ≥ 0.1 kGy under the optimized
HS-SPME-GC/MS conditions, and the unique presence of the marker in
a gamma-irradiated sample was verified by comparing the results from
heat, steam, microwave, sonication, and ultraviolet treatments. The
comparisons of the identification properties for various conventional
methods validated several advances in HS-SPME-GC/MS analysis in terms
of rapid analysis, high sensitivity, and absence of solvent.