Optical characterization of olive and sun flower oils via mueller matrix polarimetry in combination with principal component analysis

Abstract

Applicability of the Mueller Matrix (MM) polarimetry for the optical characterization of the olive and sunflower oils were tested. For this aim, linear dichroism and optical rotation of circular birefringence of the oil samples divided into three comparable groups as pure olive oil (heated and non-heated), pure sunflower oil (heated and non-heated) and mixture of olive oil and sun flower were measured. Principal Component Analysis was also utilized in interpreting the results, through dimensional reduction. Results reveal the potential of using MM polarimetry as a low cost and simple method in authentication of olive oil, as opposed to its higher cost and complex alternatives such as Raman Spectrometry, Chromatography and NMR.