Detection of Hazelnut Oil in Virgin Olive Oil by Assessment of Free Sterols and Triacylglycerols

Abstract

Abstract Free sterols were evaluated as factors for discriminating between genuine virgin olive oil and hazelnut-mixed virgin olive oil. Numeric analyses of the results amplified the differences between groups. The application of this method to virgin olive oil samples and their mixtures with 10% hazelnut oil distinguished between genuine and nongenuine virgin olive oil with statistical certainty. Triacylglycerol analysis was tested for the same purpose by using parameter ΔECN42, but although it possessed a discriminating capacity, it alone could not distinguish the aforementioned groups with sufficient certainty. Free Δ7-sterols data were combined with ΔECN42 data into a single discriminating function to improve differentiation and bring more ruggedness, and for detection of low amounts (10%) of hazelnut oil in virgin olive oil. In fact, the values obtained by addition of Δ7-sterol data and ΔECN42 data showed a higher discriminating capacity than single parameters. In a single operation the method produced all the oil fractions necessary for analysis of free sterols and triacylglycerols with ECN42. Solid-phase extraction was applied in substitution of traditional chromatography on a silica column.