Isotopic characterization of selected fruit juices - determination of authenticity on the basis of deuterium content by SNIF-NMR

The deuterium content of sugar in fruits is influenced mainly by two factors – the botanical and also the geographical origin of the fruit. The information of the fruit origin is kept even after fermentation of the sugar, in the molecules of ethanol. The deuterium content on the methyl group of ethanol then varies depending upon the botanical origin of the fruit. SNIF-NMR (Site-specific Natural Isotope Fractionation – Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) is a specific method for determination of the deuterium isotopic ratio (D/H) in small molecules, e.g. ethanol. This isotopic technique is widely used for determination of sugar adulteration of fruit-based beverages (wines, fruit juices..). In this thesis, the authentic samples of five different fruits (apples, oranges, grapefruits, pineapples and grapes) available in the Czech market have been collected and analyzed by SNIF-NMR. The results are presented as well as the comparison to some commercially available fruit juices and nectars