Botanical discrimination of Greek unifloral honeys based on mineral content in combination with physicochemical parameter analysis, using a validated chemometric approach

The aim of the present study was to differentiate pine, thyme, fir and orange blossom honeys according to botanical origin based on the combination of mineral content and physicochemical parameter values by constructing a simple, reproducible, and validated chemometric approach. For this purpose, 207 honey samples were collected during two harvesting periods from 17 regions in Greece. Minerals (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Si, Ti, Ti, V, Zn) were quantified using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Physicochemical parameter values (pH, free, lactonic, total acidity, electrical conductivity, moisture, ash, lactonic to free acidity ratio, and colour parameters) were determined using official methods of analysis. Chemometric analyses showed that the combination of 10 physicochemical parameters and 14 minerals (24 variables) gave a discrimination rate of 96.1%, compared to single element analysis (92.9% and 85.7%, respectively). Finally, the obtained results were further evaluated using an external chemometric technique providing a similar correct classification rate. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.