THE MAJOR VOLATILE COMPONENTS OF CANE MOLASSES

SUMMARY —The characteristic aroma was found in the basic fraction of an aqueous distillate of cane molasses. Gas chromatographic analysis of this fraction indicated the presence of at least 35 compounds of which 29 were identified. Among these were aliphatic and aromatic esters, aldehydes, alcohols as well as several furan derivatives. The acidic fraction contained at least 11 compounds, five of which were identified as simple aliphatic acids.