Study of bee honey by spectral analysis in the near infrared spectrum.

The objective of the present study is to examine samples of bee honey of different origin and create models for their classification through spectral analysis in the near infrared spectrum. Representative samples unifloral (sunflower, acacia, lime and coriander), multifloral and honeydew honey are used. The origin of the above honey samples has been determined in advance by pollen analysis. The spectral measurement (NIR spectroscopy) of each sample was done non-destructively, by measuring the diffuse reflection of the honey samples using the spectral device NIRQuest 512 within the range 900-1700 nm. The spectral differences between the different types of bee honey have been studied. For classification of the samples based on their spectra the SIMCA method (Soft Independent Modeling of Class Analogy) was used. Models for distinguishing different types of bee honey - unifloral, multifloral and honeydew - have been obtained. The results show 100% accuracy of classification of the samples from the three groups based on the received spectral information. The most compact is the group of honeydew honey.