Correlation of TLC/densitometry-data with capillary GC-data of some main volatile components of essential oils

The results of the densitometric and the capillary gas chromatographic investigations of numerous lavender oils of different origin and of essential oils of the woody group were correlated. Especially the main components, the monoterpenes linalool (¯1) and linalyl acetate (¯2), were quantified by densitometry with an average standard deviation of 6–7% in the examined oils. The use of TLC in combination with densitometry in the quantification of the main components to essential oils is thus a valuable addition to capillary gas chromatographic investigation. In addition to this, a useful and efficient alternative is given to groups specialized in TLC/densitometry to obtain data on such volatile compounds of essential oils during quantification. The use of TLC/densitometry thus combines the advantage of LC-with detection of also less volatile compounds—and the possibility of the parallel investigation of more samples in one step in a very efficient way.