title: Classifying wine according to geographical origin via quadrupole-based ICP-mass spectrometry measurements of boron isotope ratios.
abstract: The potential of quadrupole-based ICP-MS as a tool for B-isotopic analysis of wines and its usefulness in provenance determinations were assessed. A precision of 0.1-0.25% RSD (corresponding to a relative standard deviation of the mean of three replicate measurements of 0.06-0.12%) was sufficient to establish small differences in the B isotope ratios in wines from different geographical origins. Each sample measurement was bracketed by measurements of a standard and mass bias drift correction made by interpolation. Sample preparation was kept to a minimum to avoid possible fractionation. Dilution of the wine samples by a factor of 100 with 0.65% HNO3 was found to reduce matrix-induced mass discrimination substantially. Wines from three wine-producing regions, Stellenbosch, Robertson, and Swartland, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, and wines from specific regions in France (Bergerac) and Italy (Valpolicella) were analyzed by ICP-QMS for their B-isotopic compositions. It was concluded that the 11B/10B ratios can be used to characterize wines from different geographical origins. Average 11B/10B ratios in red wines from South Africa (Stellenbosch), France (Bergerac), and Italy (Valpolicella) were found to differ by between 0.5 and 1.5%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, 524, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa. paulc@uj.ac.za
authors.forename: Paul P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Coetzee
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vanhaecke
mesh_terms: D001895:Boron / Q000032:analysis*; D005602:France; D007554:Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013019:South Africa; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis* / Q000145:classification*
chemical_list: D007554:Isotopes; D001895:Boron