Application of Solid Phase Extraction with Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry in Geographical Profiling and Characterization of Volatile Organics in Kenyan Honey

Abstract

Honey from different regions fetch different market prices, this makes it prone to mislabeling in terms of origin. This study aimed at identifying markers specific to Kenyan honey from different regions so as to develop a fast reliable profile that can be used in the geographical profiling of honey. Solid-Phase Extraction followed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used to extract and identify volatile organic compounds in honey from various regions in Kenya. Various volatile organic compounds were identified, they were classified into the following classes; esters, carboxylic acids, aldehydes ketones, and hydrocarbons. It was established that the presence or absence of certain compounds and their variation in concentration can be used to classify honey from different geographical regions in Kenya.

Keywords: Honey, Volatile Organics, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Kenya