Hydrogen (2H/1H) Combined with Carbon (13C/12C) Isotope Ratios Analysis to Determine the Adulteration of Commercial Honey

In this study, delta H-2 values of honey were detected and then applied to the identification of honey adulteration. In the meantime, delta C-13 values of honey, its protein fraction, and individual sugar (glucose and fructose) were also determined by EA-IRMS and LC-IRMS, which combined with delta H-2 values of honey, have been developed to improve isotopic methods devoted to the research of honey authenticity. For this purpose, 58 Chinese commercial honey samples from various origins were analyzed. The results indicated that the ranges of delta C-13(honey) and delta C-13(protein) of these samples were from -28.833 to -10.886 aEuro degrees and -28.327 to -21.632 aEuro degrees, respectively. Interestingly, a very strong correlation was observed between delta C-13(honey) value and delta C-13(protein) value of pure honey. Moreover, delta H-2 values of the honey samples were calculated between -156.725 and -170.029 aEuro degrees. The comprehensive procedure has advantages over existing methods in terms of time and sensitivity.