Quantitative HPLC Analysis of Acids in Brazilian Cachaças and Various Spirits Using Fluorescence Detection of Their 9-Anthrylmethyl Esters

An analytical procedure for the separation and quantification of 17 short-chain, medium-chain, and long-chain acids in cachaças and various spirits has been developed involving C18 solid phase extraction, derivatization with 9-anthryldiazomethane, and reverse phase HPLC using fluorescence detection. The limit of detection was between 5 and 15 fmol, whereas the recovery of nonanoic acid as internal standard was >95%. Relative standard deviation values for reproducibility were between 0.09 and 20.4%, and repeatability was between 0.05 and 11.3%.