Assessment of minerals in aged grape marc distillates by FAAS/FAES and ICP-MS. Characterization and safety evaluation

- Mineral composition of aged Orujo has been determined by FAAS/FAES and ICP-MS.
- Results have been compared to published data and legal limits.
- Simulated daily intake suggest the consumer safety of aged Orujos.
- PCA analysis clearly showed a good separation of the aged Orujo samples.

Orujo is the name of the Galician (NW of Spain) grape marc distillate. The usual way of Orujo consumption is as young brandy due to the lack of knowledge about the most appropriate type of barrel for aging and the high cost of the final product. However in the past years, demand for this aged distillate has increased. This manuscript has a double aim: contribute to the analytical characterization of this traditional beverage in terms of mineral constituents and evaluate the influence of the species of wooden barrel in the mineral content. Analyses were performed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (Cu, Mn, Zn, Fe, Ca and Mg), flame atomic emission spectrophotometry (Na and K) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Al, Cd and Pb). Orujos aged in Quercus alba showed significant higher value for the majority of metals whereas those aged in Quercus petraea showed the lowest contents. K, Na and Ca were the more abundant minerals in the analyzed distillates. The PCA analysis clearly showed a good separation of samples in terms of mineral constituents. The very low concentrations of all minerals evaluated indicated the good manufactured process and the consumer safety of aged Orujos.