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Issue Apidologie
Volume 33, Number 3, May-June 2002
Page(s) 327 - 337
DOI 10.1051/apido:2002010



Apidologie 33 (2002) 327-337
DOI: 10.1051/apido:2002010

Infrared spectroscopy in routine quality analysis of honey

Birgit Lichtenberg-Kraag, Christoph Hedtke and Kaspar Bienefeld

Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde Hohen Neuendorf e.V., Friedrich-Engels-Str. 32, 16540 Hohen Neuendorf, Germany

(Received 30 June 2001; revised 9 August 2001; accepted 14 February 2002)

Abstract
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used as a rapid, simple and reliable method for quality analysis of honey. More than 1600 samples of honey were analysed using FT-IR and reference methods to develop a partial least-square regression based calibration model for the major components of honey (sugars, proline, free acids, invertase, moisture, hydroxymethylfurfural, pH and electrical conductivity). The coefficient of determination R 2 ranging from 0.84-0.98 indicates an acceptable calibration for most of the parameters. Statistical verification of the spectral analysis in routine analysis showed a high correlation (0.81-0.99), good repeatability (0.84-0.99), no environmental influences ( P > 0.05) and no significant statistical differences to the reference methods. This study shows that not only chemical composition but also the physical properties can be determined by FT-IR. The calibrations can be adapted to different analytical standards and honey sources.


Key words: Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy / FT-IR / honey quality/ sugar analysis

Correspondence and reprints: Birgit Lichtenberg-Kraag
    e-mail: bienenkunde@rz.hu-berlin.de

© INRA, EDP Sciences, DIB, AGIB 2002


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