Simultaneous quantitation of mono-, di- and trisaccharides by GC-MS of their TMS ether oxime derivatives .2. In honey

The fructose, glucose and the minor oligosaccharide content of nineteen honeys has been determined as their TMS sugar oximes, by GC-MS, from a single solution, with one injection, without any preliminary isolation. The saccharide distribution in honey of various floral origins (8 acacia-, 8 mixed flower-, I linden-, 1 rape-, 1 sunflower- and 1 pine sample) revealed that acacia honey contains significantly higher fructose, sucrose and minor oligosaccharides than samples from other floral sources. The simultaneous quantitation of major and minor constituents offered the possibility to determine various ratios, (maltose/turanose, sucrose/ turanose and maltotriose/raffinose+erlose+melezitose) that give excellent proof of authenticity.