Chapter 14 - NMR and Olive Oils: A Geographical Characterization

Abstract

The definition of the geographical origin of extra virgin olive oils is a controversial question: the composition of an extra virgin olive oil is in fact the result of different factors such as pedoclimatic conditions, the genotype, and agronomic practices. Therefore, for the careful definition of the geographical origin based on chemical composition, many factors need to be taken into account. This chapter reviews the current papers regarding the geographical characterization of olive oils by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). It includes the description of the NMR-statistical protocol as well as the more significant results in the characterization of olive oils. The NMR protocol for olive oil characterization requires the 1H and 13C NMR spectrum of the olive oil to be acquired at high field and the intensity (height) of a few selected normalized resonances to be measured. 1H and 13C NMR techniques allow olive oils to be characterized. 1H NMR spectrum allows one to have information about major and minor olive oil components, whereas 13C NMR can provide valuable information about the acyl distribution and the acyl positional distribution of glycerol tri-esters of different oils.