Chemical fingerprint of non‐aged artisanal sugarcane spirits using kohonen artifcial neural network.

Abstract

This study focuses on the determination of the chemical profle of 24 non-aged Brazilian artisanal sugarcane spirits (cachaça) samples through chromatographic quantifcation and chemometric treatment via principal component analysis (PCA) and Kohonen’s neural network. In total, forty-seven (47) chemical compounds were identifed in the samples of non-aged artisanal cachaça, in addition to determining alcohol content, volatile acidity, and copper. For the PCA of the chemical compounds’ profle, it could be observed that the samples were grouped into seven groups. On the other hand, the variables’ bearings were grouped together, making it difcult to separate the components in relation to the sample groups and reducing the chances of obtaining all the necessary information. However, by using a Kohonen’s neural network, samples were grouped

into eight groups. This tool proved to be more accurate in the groups’ formation. Among the chemical classes of the com- pounds observed, esters stood out, followed by alcohols, acids, aldehydes, ketones, phenol, and copper. The abundance of

esters in these samples may suggest that these compounds would be part of the regional standard for cachaças produced in the region of Salinas, Minas Gerais.