title: The impact of environmental factors on molecular and stable isotope compositions of n-alkanes in Mediterranean extra virgin olive oils.
abstract: The impact of climatic factors on the molecular and stable carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of n-alkanes in extra virgin olive oils from eight Mediterranean countries is studied, and the applicability of these data for olive oil regional classification is discussed. n-Alkane average chain length values are positively correlated with the amount of precipitation and are the lowest in olive oils from Morocco and Greece and the highest in oils from Spain and Portugal. Stable carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of n-alkane C29 show significant correlation with climatic parameters and are significantly more positive in olive oils from the southern compared with northern Mediterranean countries.
authors.affiliation: University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK. Electronic address: a.mihailova@uea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mihailova
authors.affiliation: HYDEA S.p.A., Via del Rosso Fiorentino 2/g, 50142 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abbado
authors.affiliation: University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Simon D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors.forename: Nikolai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pedentchouk
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000737:chemistry*; D002247:Carbon Isotopes / Q000032:analysis; D002980:Climate; D003903:Deuterium / Q000032:analysis; D006115:Greece; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009018:Morocco; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000032:analysis*; D011174:Portugal; D011891:Rain; D013030:Spain
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D003903:Deuterium
keywords: Extra virgin olive oil; Food traceability; Geographical origin; Stable carbon isotopes; Stable hydrogen isotopes; n-Alkanes