Abstract: In this paper, the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and heat sterilization treatments on volatile components in peach juice was investigated. The major volatile components in untreated peach juice were acetic acid, 1-pentanol, 3-methyl-methoxy-2-propyl acetate and benzaldehyde. The esters exhibited the increase after HHP treatment, which were acetyl butyl ester and dibutyl phthalate with the content increase by 516.67% and 40.91%, benzaldehyde and nonanal with the content increase by 219.78% and 130.55%. Meanwhile, HHP treatment revealed the occurrence of new compounds such as 3, 4-dimethyl-2-hexanone and diethyl phthalate and an obvious loss of alcohols. Heat sterilization led to dramatic change of volatile components in peach juice, which exhibited the content decrease of acetyl butyl ester, and complete loss of 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate, acetic acid, 3-methyl-pentanol and benzyl methanol. However, the increased 2-decen-1-ol (oil flavor) damaged the flavor of peach juice. All of these results indicated that HHP could retain better flavor of peach juice than heat sterilization.

Key words: high hydrostatic pressure, heat sterilization, peach juice, volatile components