The concentration of 14 organic acids of 50 sugarcane spirits samples was determined by gas chromatography using flame ionization detection. The organic acids analytical quantitative profile in stills and column distilled spirits from wines obtained from the same must were compared. The comparison was also carried in "head", "heart" and "tail fractions of stills distilled spirits. The experimental data were analyzed by Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and pointed out that the distillation process (stills and column) strongly influences the lead spirits' organic acid composition and that producers' operational "cuts off" to produce "tail", "heart" and "head", fractions should be optimized.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da condução da destilação sobre os teores de acidez e de cobre da aguardente de cana. Duas técnicas de destilação em alambiques simples foram confrontadas, a destilação convencional (Tratamento A.M.) e a dupla destilação (Tratamento A.B.). Houve influência positiva da dupla destilação sobre as características físico-químicas da aguardente, com redução nos teores de cobre e acidez acética, dentre outros parâmetros tecnológicos analisados.

Two distillation techniques, conventional distillation and double distillation were compared employing pot stills. Analysis of the results indicated a positive influence of the double distillation technique on the physical and chemical characteristics of the spirit. Lower levels of copper and total acidity were obtained as compared to those of conventional distillation.