Qualitative and Comparative Study of APORT Apple Peel Based on UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS Technology and Fruit Peel Comparison of Different Provenances

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to qualitatively study the main chemical components of apple peel in APORT, Kazakhstan, by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐quadrupole‐time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS) and to compare the components of apple peels with different provenances. Methods An ACQUITY UPLC HSS T3 (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) column was used with 0.1% formic acid water (A)–acetonitrile (B) as the mobile phase and gradient elution at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min and a column temperature of 40°C. Mass spectrometry analysis was performed using the ESI positive and negative ion modes to acquire the data. Results With the Mass Lynx 4.2 workstation, online database, retention time of chromatographic peaks of each compound, and secondary fragmentation law, 14 compounds were identified from APORT apple peel extraction samples for the first time, and the main component categories included flavonols, organic acids, dihydrochalcones, terpenes, flavanols, etc., and caffeic acid, crataegolic acid, quinine acid, and quercitrin were found to be unique in APORT apple peel.