Whit objective to know the quality, with prominence for the copper levels, 25 samples of craftwork "cachaça" were analyzed, produced and commercialized in 17 cities from four Microregions: Ijuí, Cruz Alta, Santa Rosa and Três Passos, that integrate the northwest of Rio Grande do Sul Brazil and, were compared the found values with those established by the Legislation. For the analyses, was proceeded evaluation from the general aspects of the samples through visual and the sense of smell comments, as the recommendations from the Ministry of Agriculture for liquor analysis. The alcoholic content was determined using densimetric method and the copper content had been determined through espectrofotometric of atomic absorption (EAA). It was applied the tests of ANOVA and Tukey. They had been evidenced, from the analysis of the general aspects, that 72% of the samples had presented limpidity abnormalities. It was verified that Microregion Três Passos presented 42.86% of its samples below the legislation to the alcoholic content however the average values for all the samples of the four Microregions. Concerning to the copper levels, the biggest average concentration was observed in Microregion Três Passos (10.22mg L-1) while in the Cruz Alta region the least average levels of this metal was observed (2.95mg L-1). Only the Microregions Ijuí and Três Passos presented significant estatistics differences according to the copper average levels when compared to the other Microregions. The regional average for the levels of this metal in the four Microregions were of 5.71mg L-1, value above the maximum limit of 5mg L-1.The results of the present work although was to evaluate only some of the parameters of quality for liquors it became evident of the necessity to adopt technological strategies to support and qualificate the producers in order to stimulate and to extend this important agro-industrial activity for the competitivity and survival of the small agricultural producers.
copper; cachaça; spirits; contamination; levels
