ORGANIC ACIDS IN DIFFERENT TYPES OF EGYPTIAN HONEY

Organic acids in 4 types of Egyptian honey were analyzed and compared using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The main types of Egyptian honeys used in this study were: Citrus, Clover, Cotton and artificial honey (or adulteration honey) which collected from colonies feeding on sugar syrup. Organic acids which present in some samples of Egyptian honey were eight types in Citrus honey, seven types in Clover honey, five types in Cotton honey and four types in artificial honey. There were only three organic acids (formic, malonic and maleic acids) common in the four experimental types of Egyptian honey. Citrus and Clover honey contains the same seven organic acids (formic, malonic, tartaric, shikimic, maleic, succinic and proponic acids), the 8th organic acid was citric acid present only in Citrus honey. The organic acids present in Cotton honey were formic, malonic, tartaric, shikimic and maleic acids, while in artificial honey it contains formic, malonic, maleic and succinic acids. Statistical analysis represented that there were a significant difference in formic, malonic, tartaric, shikimic and maleic acid between the four tested honeys. Citric acid was present only in Citrus honey, so it can be used to differentiate between Citrus honey and the other three honeys. Also, succinic acid absent in Cotton honey so it could be used to distinguished Cotton honey from the other three honeys. So, organic acids can be used to distinguish between the main different types of Egyptian honey (Citrus, Clover and Cotton) and artificial honey (sugar syrup honey).