title: Control of oenological products: discrimination between different botanical sources of L-tartaric acid by isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
abstract: Following previous studies on counterfeit of wines with synthetic ingredients, the possibility of frauds by natural external L-tartaric acid has also been investigated. The aim of this research was to map the stable isotope ratios of L-tartaric acid coming from botanical species containing large amounts of this compound: grape and tamarind. Samples of L-tartaric acid were extracted from the pulp of tamarind fruits originating from several countries and from grape must. delta(13)C and delta(18)O were measured for all samples. Additional delta(2)H measurements were performed as a complementary analysis to help discrimination of the botanical origin. Different isotopic patterns were observed for the different botanical origins. The multivariate statistical analysis of the data shows clear discrimination among the different botanical and synthetic sources. This approach could be a complementary tool for the control of L-tartaric acid used in oenology.
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, Physical and Chemical Exposure Unit, MAST TP281 (BEVABS, TP740), Via Fermi 2, 21020 Ispra, Italy. jose-manuel.moreno-rojas@jrc.it
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Moreno Rojas
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cosofret
authors.forename: Fabiano
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Reniero
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guillou
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Serra
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D003903:Deuterium / Q000032:analysis; D005523:Food Supply / Q000592:standards; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D029861:Tamarindus / Q000737:chemistry; D013644:Tartrates / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014920:Wine / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D010936:Plant Extracts; D013644:Tartrates; D003903:Deuterium; C029768:tartaric acid