Quantitative Chemical Profile and Multivariate Statistical Analysis of Alembic Distilled Sugarcane Spirit Fractions

Concentrations of 39 organic compounds were determined in three fractions (head, heart and tail) obtained from the pot still distillation of fermented sugarcane juice. The results were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's test, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). According to PCA and HCA, the experimental data lead to the formation of three clusters. The head fractions give rise to a more defined group. The heart and tail fractions showed some overlap consistent with its acid composition. The predictive ability of calibration and validation of the model generated by LDA for the three fractions classification were 90.5 and 100%, respectively. This model recognized as the heart twelve of the thirteen commercial cachacas (92.3%) with good sensory characteristics, thus showing potential for guiding the process of cuts.

Quantitative chemical profile and multivariate statistical analysis of alembic distilled sugarcane spirit fractions

As concentrações de 39 compostos orgânicos foram determinadas em três frações (cabeça, coração e cauda) obtidas da destilação em alambique do caldo de cana fermentado. Os resultados foram avaliados utilizando-se análise de variância (ANOVA), teste de Tukey, análise de componentes principais (PCA), agrupamento hierárquico (HCA) e análise discriminante linear (LDA). De acordo com PCA e HCA, os dados experimentais conduzem à formação de três agrupamentos. As frações de cabeça deram origem a um grupo mais definido. As frações coração e cauda apresentaram alguma sobreposição coerente com sua composição em ácidos. As habilidades preditivas de calibração e validação dos modelos gerados pela LDA para a classificação das três frações foram de 90,5 e 100%, respectivamente. Este modelo reconheceu como coração doze de treze cachaças comerciais (92,3%) com boas características sensoriais, apresentando potencial para a orientação do processo de cortes.

Traditional algarvian distillats and liqueurs historic scientific aspects

All the evidence indicates that distillation and liqueurs preparation began in Monchique mountain because this place was pointed as a possible capital of the oldest population of Algarve and an important Arabic village (Barreto, 1972: 19). It was possible to find lots of vestiges like the alembic produced by Arabic population near the X century (Telo, 1988: 77). Traditionally the Algarvian people produce the Arbutus unedo L., fig, carob, grape distillates. At the same time they produce liqueur-using maceration of parts of plants or fruits in some kinds of distillates. Most of the work about Algarvian distillates started by studying the basic compounds of Arbutus unedo spirits by gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) as well as other physical-chemical properties. In a second phase aged distillates were studied by their phenolic compounds evolution using high resolution liquid chromatography (HPLC). Volatile compounds of traditional liqueurs were identified by head space micro extraction solid phase (HE-SPME) and also analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and when possible confirmed with standards. Total phenols were determined by Folin-Ciocalteur method. Flavenoids were studied by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Sensorial analysis was also done in every drink studies. The results showed that the arbutus distillate doesn’t present a high level of methanol according to the current legislation. The excesses of acidity or ethyl acetate present normal values when the fermentation is well done (Galego, et al. 1995: 341; Galego, et al. 1995: 685). During the aging process, the colour of spirits tend to become darker, the colour changes occurred more rapidly in the arbutus spirits located in cellars with higher temperatures (Galego, et al. 2001: 432). In the sensory evaluation of samples aged during 12 months into 50 L medium toasting level oak wood barrels, panellists considered that samples of arbutus spirit had too much wood flavour and they were not able to detect the characteristic aroma of arbutus fruit (Galego, et al., 2001: 183). Differences in liqueurs were observed using HS-SPME-GC, HS-SPME-GC-MS or HPLC analysis and this observation was confirmed by a sensorial panel (Galego, et al. 2003: 60).

Quantitative ester analysis in cachaca and distilled spirits by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)

An analytical procedure for the separation and quantification of ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl lactate, ethyl octanoate, ethyl nonanoate, ethyl decanoate, isoamyl octanoate, and ethyl laurate in cachaca, rum, and whisky by direct injection gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was developed. The analytical method is simple, selective, and appropriated for the determination of esters in distilled spirits. The limit of detection ranged from 29 (ethyl hexanoate) to 530 (ethyl acetate) mu g L-1, whereas the standard deviation for repeatability was between 0.774% (ethyl hexanoate) and 5.05% (isoamyl octanoate). Relative standard deviation values for accuracy vary from 90.3 to 98.5% for ethyl butyrate and ethyl acetate, respectively. Ethyl acetate was shown to be the major ester in cachaca (median content of 22.6 mg 100 mL(-1) anhydrous alcohol), followed by ethyl lactate (median content of 8.32 mg 100 mL(-1) anhydrous alcohol). Cachaca produced in copper and hybrid alembic present a higher content of ethyl acetate and ethyl lactate than those produced in a stainless-steel column, whereas cachaca produced by distillation in a stainless-steel column present a higher content of ethyl octanoate, ethyl decanoate, and ethyl laurate. As expected, ethyl acetate is the major ester in whiskey and rum, followed by ethyl lactate for samples of rum. Nevertheless, whiskey samples exhibit ethyl lactate at contents lower or at the same order of magnitude of the fatty esters.

Estruturação e processos isomórficos do campo organizacional de alambiques de cachaça artesanal em Bananal - SP

This work tries to comprehend, throw the prism of the Institutional Theory, the structural process of organizational field of cachaça¿s handicraft producers¿ from a Brazilian countryside region. The role of values and traditions on the determination of the structure and decision making on this industry are analyzed. It is necessary to research historic, economic and social facts, and confront them to the formation of Brazilian society to understand the field¿s formulation. An important aspect of this research is the mapping of isomorphic process and the comparison of the field¿s institutional degree, before and after the changes. It was noticed that the alteration on perception of Cachaça in the national market and the entrance of a new actor oriented by functional rationality are the major reasons for the mimetic changes on this field. As a contribution, this study confirms the applicability of Institutional Theory on analysis of specific fields and shows how this field has structured itself.

Flow-through cell based on an array of gold microelectrodes obtained from modified integrated circuit chips

The construction of a flow-through cell incorporating an array of gold microelectrodes is described and its application to flow injection analysis with amperometric detection is presented, Simple modification of almost any conventional integrated circuit chip, used as an inexpensive source of pre-assembled gold micro-wires, leads to the rapid and successful preparation of arrays of 8-48 elements, the polymeric encapsulation material from the top face of the chip is removed by abrasion until the gold micro-mires (used to interconnect the silicon circuit to the external contact pins of the chip) are disrupted and their transversal (elliptical) sections become exposed. Once polished, the flat and smooth top surface of the gold microelectrode-array chip (MEAC) is provided with a spacer and fitted under pressure against an acrylic block with the reference and auxiliary electrodes, to form the electrochemical (thin-layer) flow cell, while the contact pins are plugged into a standard IC socket, This design ensures autonomous electric contact with each electrode and allows fast dismantling for polishing or substitution, the performance of flow cells with MEACs was investigated utilizing the technique of reverse pulse amperometry without oxygen removal, A method was established for the determination of the copper concentration in sugar cane spirit, regulated by law for beverages, Samples from industrial producers and small-scale (alembic) brewers were compared, With a 24 MEAC, a detection limit of 30 mu g I-l of copper (4.7 x 10(-7) mol l(-1) of Cu-II for 100 mu l injections) was calculated, Routine operation was established at a frequency of 60-90 determinations per hour, Intercomparison with atomic absorption spectrometric determinations resulted in excellent agreement.

Quantificação de contaminantes em aguardentes de cana/cachaças de alambique e de coluna

In the present study aimed to characterize and quantify four contaminants (ethyl carbamate, 2,3-butanedione, furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) present in alembic cachaça and industrial. Were collected forty-four samples of cachaça in the southern regions, the Midwest, southeast of Minas Gerais and São Paulo state, and subsequently subjected to physical, chemical and chromatographic analyzes. The physicochemical analyzes were performed according to the methodology described by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA). The ethyl carbamate, 2,3-butanedione, furfuaral and 5 hydroxymethylfurfural were characterized and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of the ethyl carbamate analysis, it was found that both samples showed column cachaças outside the standards required by law, with the values 245.31 235.53 L-1 ug and none of the liquor samples alembic showed concentration greater than 210.0 ug L-1 , and the method is very sensitive to low limits of detection and quantification. In determining 2,3-butanedione, it was revealed that the column cachaças showed higher levels of contaminants when compared to cachaça alembic. In the quantification of furfural and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural was developed and validated analytical methods employed to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with DAD detector. Samples column cachaças showed higher values than the limit established by Brazilian legislation and ranged from 7.00 to 5.63 mg / 100 ml of anhydrous alcohol over the alembic cachaça.

Processo de destilação para redução de contaminação por carbamato de etila em bebidas alcoólicas

Contamination of Brazilian sugar-cane rum by ethyl carbamate, a potentially carcinogenic substance, is considered an obstacle to export of the beverage. Copper is involved in ethyl-carbamate-formation reactions, and the replacement thereof by stainless steel in distillation equipment, with the aim of preventing the formation of said compound, results in a beverage of poor sensory quality owing to the presence of dimethyl sulphide. A reduction in the concentration of sulphurated compounds in the final product may be achieved by the placing of a copper device (Patent No. 8206688) inside the dome of a stainless-steel alembic. It is therefore appropriate to verify the efficiency of using other forms of catalysts that, in addition to reducing ethyl-carbamate levels, are able, likewise, to trigger other catalytic actions that allow the production of a distillate of good sensory quality. Silver is the noble metal most used in industry and, on account of the catalytic properties thereof, it is ideal for use as a catalyst in oxidation reactions. The subject matter of the present invention comprises a method involving the use of silver in the distillation of alcoholic beverages, such as sugar-cane rum, which reduces ethyl-carbamate contamination of the end-product.

CHEMICAL PROFILE COMPARISON OF SUGARCANE SPIRITS FROM THE SAME WINE DISTILLED IN ALEMBICS AND COLUMNS

CHEMICAL PROFILE COMPARISON OF SUGARCANE SPIRITS FROM THE SAME WINE DISTILLED IN ALEMBICS AND COLUMNS. Six wines were distilled in two different distillation apparatus (alembic and column) producing 24 distillates (6 for each alembic fraction - head, heart and tail; 6 column distillates). The chemical composition of distillates from the same wine was determined using chromatographic techniques. Analytical data were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) allowing discrimination of four clusters according to chemical profiles. Both distillation processes influenced the sugarcane spirits chemical quality since two types of distillates with different quantitative chemical profiles were produced after the elimination of fermentation step influence.

Comparação do perfil químico entre cachaças de um mesmo vinho destiladas em alambiques e em colunas

Six wines were distilled in two different distillation apparatus (alembic and column) producing 24 distillates (6 for each alembic fraction - head, heart and tail; 6 column distillates). The chemical composition of distillates from the same wine was determined using chromatographic techniques. Analytical data were subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) allowing discrimination of four clusters according to chemical profiles. Both distillation processes influenced the sugarcane spirits chemical quality since two types of distillates with different quantitative chemical profiles were produced after the elimination of fermentation step influence.

Foundations of the atomic theory: comprising papers and extracts by John Dalton, William Hyde Wollaston, M. D., and Thomas Thomson, M. D. (1802-1808)

Mode of access: Internet.

The decomposition of the fixed alkalies and alkaline earths.

From Philosophical transactions for 1808, v. 98, p. 1-44, 341-346.

Um brinde à cachaça: o patrimônio históricocultural e seus usos turísticos nos alambiques do Rio Grande do Norte

The study proposes to present a discussion about the value of cachaça as a cultural heritage and its relation with the touristic activities in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. Based on a discussion originated from historic studies related to the touristic sector, especially when it comes to gastronomy, cachaça is defined not only as an important instrument to the construction of identities, but, also, as an element able to weave social, political and economic relations. Therefore, a touristic product that can provide new destinations. The research was made through five alembics located on the East and Seridó regions of Rio Grande do Norte. To define the focus, it is necessary to refine this selection, especially when dealing with historical facts and memories from these establishment owners. Thus, it becomes necessary to consider the alembic trajectory, periods of larger productions and insertion in the touristic market. Through documental data collection and observations made in field tours, the research has a qualitative approach with descriptive and exploratory goal, methodology that allows us to approach issues around articulations among heritage, identity and tourism. "It was concluded that the state of Rio Grande do Norte has many tourist routes where handmade cachaça produced in the State can be inserted in any of these routes due to its potential searched in the research, as well as, it is possible to work in other perspective when it comes to ways of protecting this patrimony and strategies of incentive of the activity for the development and appreciation of local economy.