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.

Keywords: Extra virgin olive oil; Food traceability; Geographical origin; Stable carbon isotopes; Stable hydrogen isotopes; n-Alkanes.