Evaluation of measurement uncertainty in EA–IRMS: for determination of δ13C value and C-4 plant sugar content in adulterated honey

In this study, the method for determining the stable carbon isotope ratio value was validated. Measurement uncertainty of stable carbon isotope ratio value of whole honey and its extracted protein derived from repeatability, reference gas, reference standards and calibration curve was calculated by applying the “bottom-up” approach according to Eurachem/CITAC guide. The expanded uncertainties for all results ranged from 0.14 to 0.19 ‰, with most of them between 0.15 and 0.16 ‰ (the coverage factor k = 2, the level of confidence p is approximately 95 %). The percentage contribution of each source to the relative combined uncertainty was calculated. The data indicated that calibration curves have more contribution to the relative combined uncertainty than repeatability and reference standards. On the other hand, the measurement uncertainty of C-4 sugar content in honey was estimated. Based on these results, 58 honey samples, such as acacia, chaste, Northeast China black bee, flowers and jujube honey, have been gathered to determine the C-4 plant sugar content adulteration in honey by elemental analyzer with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer. It can be found that all honey samples were not adulterated by C-4 plant sugar.