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Spelt authenticity assessment using a rapid and simple Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method combined to advanced chemometrics

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Abstract

An ever-increased cultivation and market interest towards spelt (Triticum spelta) has been noticed indicating the need to develop analytical methods assessing the authenticity of this underutilized cereal commodity. In this study, an attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) method was developed and combined to a supervised chemometric tool, specifically orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The validated model efficiently discriminated spelt (n = 22) over the widely used common wheat (Triticum aestivum) (n = 25) providing strong predictive power (goodness of fit, R2Y = 0.918 and model predictability, Q2 = 0.906). In addition, adulterated samples were used as an external validation set, and the developed OPLS-DA model identified the spelt-common wheat mixtures as a separate class highlighting its strong predictive power. In terms of the analysis, the method was rapid (less than a minute per run) and no sample preparation was needed. The major chemical composition of the tested samples was also revealed due to the structural information provided by the FTIR spectroscopy. All in all, the developed method is simple, cost-efficient and non-destructive indicating its high potential as a fast screening tool in cereal authenticity testing.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by METROFOOD-CZ research infrastructure project (MEYS Grant No: LM2018100) including access to its facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition, Faculty of Food and Biochemical Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague 6–Dejvice, Prague, Czech Republic

    A. S. Tsagkaris, V. Hrbek & J. Hajslova

  2. Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    N. Kalogiouri

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  1. A. S. Tsagkaris
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Tsagkaris, A.S., Kalogiouri, N., Hrbek, V. et al. Spelt authenticity assessment using a rapid and simple Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) method combined to advanced chemometrics. Eur Food Res Technol 249, 441–450 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-022-04128-2

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