That is the question. Is this pure honey, produced only by honey bees? Or has it been adulterated with cheaper sugar syrups? This blog post explores some of the methods that can be used for testing honey for adulteration with syrups. We start with NIR analysis, then look at the C4 Sugars test, Spatial Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR)
Read ArticleSilk has been a premium fibre for textiles for millennia. Sagitto provides a rapid and non-destructive way of determining whether a textile is genuine pure silk, a blend of silk with another fibre, or made entirely from another fibre. This is especially valuable for collectors of antique clothing or rugs, and buyers of premium label garments.
Read Article'English lavender' oil is extracted from the flowers of Lavandula angustifolia, while 'Lavandin' oil is made from Lavandula x. intermedia, a hybrid cross between Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula latifolia (Spike Lavender). Near infrared spectroscopy not only gives a very rapid and inexpensive method to tell the difference between these two types of oil, but also allows the composition of oils to be accurately measured.
Read Article