ISOTOPE ANALYSIS METHOD (δ13C) IN CLARIFIED APPLE JUICE

Abstract

The aims of this study were to develop the method of isotope analysis
to quantify the carbon of the C3 photosynthetic cycle in commercial
clarifi ed apple juices and to measure the legal limit based on
Brazilian legislation in order to identify the beverages that do not
conform to the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and
Food Supply (MAPA). This beverage was produced in a laboratory,
according to Brazilian legislation. Adulterated juices with a sugarcane
quantity above the legal limit were also produced. Isotope analyses
measured the relative isotope enrichment of clarifi ed apple juices
and their purifi ed sugar fraction. From these results the C3 source
concentration was estimated by means of the isotope dilution
equation. To determine the existence of adulteration in commercial
juices it was necessary to create a legal limit according to Brazilian
legislation. Two commercial brands of clarifi ed juice were analyzed.
Taking the C3 source concentration and the ºBrix of commercial
clarifi ed juices, together with the legal limit, it was possible to verify
that one sample certainly contained more sugarcane than the
quantity established by the MAPA. The development of a legal limit
was an important methodological innovation that made it possible to
identify the beverages that did not conform to Brazilian legislation.
The methodology developed proved effi cient for quantifying the
carbon of C3 origin in commercial clarifi ed apple juices.