Rapid Determination of Ethanol in Sugarcane Spirit Using Partial Least Squares Regression Embedded in Smartphone

Mobile devices were used to quantify ethanol content-via colorimetry-in cacha double dagger a samples to great analytical precision. Ethanol from the spirits reacted with ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) and nitric acid (NA) to form a red-colored complex. Images from the reaction were taken over time using a smartphone device and processed using software PhotoMetrix ProA (R) via partial least squares (PLS). A priori, Doehlert matrix was used for optimization of reagents concentration in the complexation reaction, with hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) as estimation method and a flatbed scanner as measuring tool. When compared with the UV-VIS reference method, results from mobile device imaging presented a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.0677% (v/v). A t test showed there is no significant difference between methods (P < 0.05).