Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry Coupled to Element Analyzer and Liquid Chromatography to Identify Commercial Honeys of Various Botanical Types

The aim of the present work was to investigate whether honeys of various botanical characteristics could be discriminated and identified on the basis of the isotopic data. For this purpose, 45 commercial honey samples of various botanical types were analyzed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) coupled to element analyzer (EA) and liquid chromatography (LC). delta C-13 values of honey; corresponding extracted protein and individual sugars (sucrose, glucose, and fructose) of honey; reducing sugar; and sucrose contents were determined and utilized to demonstrate the authenticity of commercial honeys of different botanical types. Results indicated that a very strong correlation (delta C-13(protein) = 0.862 delta C-13(honey) + 0.800, R (2) = 0.944) was observed between delta C-13 honey values and delta C-13 protein values of real honey samples. delta C-13(honey) and delta C-13(protein) should range from -27.2 to -23.5 and -26.9 to -23.6 parts per thousand for pure honeys of various botanical types investigated in this study. The use of isotopic compositions and some systematic differences as authenticity criterion permits the honey samples of various botanical types to be reliably detected.