RAPID IDENTIFICATION OF SOME SWEETENERS AND SUGARS BY ATTENUATED TOTAL REFLECTANCE-FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED (ATR-FTIR), NEAR-INFRARED (NIR) AND RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY

The aim of the present study is to compare the vibrational characteristics of various sweeteners with different sugars by using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectroscopy. For this purpose, ATR-FTIR, NIR and Raman spectra of several sugars and sweeteners were recorded. The spectra of all samples were examined in detail for each technique. Then certain values of sugars (sucrose, galactose, fructose, glucose) and sweeteners (saccharin, sucralose, neotame, acesulfame K and rebaudioside A) were compared. Also, the spectra of binary, triple and quaternary mixtures of some sweeteners and sugars were analyzed. The specific bands of each of the sugars and sweeteners were identified. The obtained spectral information can be used as a reference to develop useful spectral methods for routine controls of sweeteneers and sugars. Moreover, the methods will be helpful for the rapid identification of sweeteners and sugars.？