Detection of Counterfeit Tequila by Fluorescence Spectroscopy

Abstract

An ultraviolet (UV) light induced fluorescence study to discriminate fake tequila from genuine ones is presented. A portable homemade system based on four light emitting diodes (LEDs) from 255 to 405 nm and a miniature spectrometer was used. It has been shown that unlike fake and silver tequila, which produce weak fluorescence signal, genuine mixed, rested, and aged tequilas show high fluorescence emission in the range from 400 to 750 nm. The fluorescence intensity grows with aging in 100% agave tequila. Such fluorescence differences can even be observed with naked eyes. The presented results demonstrate that the fluorescence measurement could be a good method to detect counterfeit tequila.

Isotopic Characterization of 100% Agave Tequila (Silver, Aged and Extra-Aged Class) for Its Use as an Additional Parameter in the Determination of the Authenticity of the Beverage Maturation Time

“…To solve the problems of adulteration and counterfeiting of the beverage, numerous research groups have focused their efforts to propose analytical techniques such as profiles of volatile organic compounds [ 3 ], gas chromatography-olfactometry [ 4 ], analysis by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR-SIMCA) [ 5 ], solid-phase micro extraction- chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS) [ 6 ], stable isotope evaluation [ 7 ], fractionation of natural isotopes of the specific site studied by nuclear magnetic resonance (SNIF-NMR) [ 8 ], solid-phase microextraction (SPME) [ 9 , 10 , 11 ], infrared spectroscopy by Fourier transform (FTIR) [ 12 , 13 ], chemometric studies and spectroscopic techniques [ 14 ], studies using photo-acoustic [ 15 ], studies using surface plasmon resonance [ 16 ], fluorescence spectroscopy [ 17 ], and through pattern recognition and supervised classification [ 18 ]. That can possibly use as an additional criterion for the 100% agave tequila silver class’s authenticity.…”

Explaining Counterfeit Alcohol Purchases in Russia

“…First, the chemical composition of counterfeit alcohol was not examined. However, previous research has provided data indicating that counterfeit alcohol may include toxic elements although the risks to human health are not always high (Lang et al., ; McKee et al., ; de la Rosa Vázquez et al., ; Savchuk et al., ; Wiśniewska et al., ). Second, this paper relied on a subjective approach, distinguishing between deceptive and nondeceptive forms of counterfeiting.…”

“…Despite the increasing importance in the global economy, counterfeit alcohol has rarely been studied. Only a few research papers on this topic are available in the literature (de la Rosa Vázquez et al., ; Wiśniewska et al., ).…”

Authentication of tequilas using pattern recognition and supervised classification

“…Thus, UV-Vis [39], [40], [41], FTIR (medium region) [35], [42], and Raman [43] spectrometry, as well as chemiluminiscence [44] were applied to fight against tequila counterfeiting. Less frequent techniques are fluorescence spectroscopy (for which a portable UV fluorescence device was tested recently as a proof-ofconcept to discriminate fake tequila from genuine ones) [45], [46] and photoacoustics [47].…”