Quality authentication of camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) oil based on fluorescence spectroscopy

A front-face fluorescence method has been used to obtain an excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and emission fluorescence spectroscopy of adulterated camellia oil samples without requiring laborious sample preparation. In total, 5 pure oils and 109 adulterated oil samples were detected, resulting in a strong linear relationship (R2 > 0.99) between the fluorescence intensity of adulterated camellia oil and the volume percentage of added oils. This method enabled the determination of the volume fractions of other oils added to camellia oil, with detection limits down to 1 % and root mean square error of prediction values of 5.66 %. Concurrently, principal component analysis of emission fluorescence spectral data showed potential for accurately clustering camellia oils from different geographical origins. This substantial finding establishes fluorescence techniques as reliable, user-friendly, and cost-effective methods for quality control and authentication of geographical origins of camellia oil, especially given the similar matrices of various adulterated oils. •Identification of adulterated camellia oil in 1 % (v/v) incorporation amount.•Fluorescent fingerprinting of vegetable oils using 3D fluorescence spectroscopy.•The potential of fluorescence spectroscopy to analyze the origins of camellia oils.•Quantitative identification of camellia oil by emission fluorescence spectroscopy.