Ação da radiação ultravioleta na redução da microbiota do caldo de cana para produção de cachaça

Abstract

The fermentation process for the production of cachaça (the most popular alcoholic distilled beverage) in Brazil is influenced by the quality of the raw material. Thus any raw material containing a high microbial load results in an ineffective fermentation, which is reflected on the final quality of the cachaça. This study evaluated the action of ultraviolet radiation as an alternative disinfectant for cachaça-producing sugarcane juice. The experiment was carried out at the TUCANINHA cachaça-producing unit in the city of São João Batista do Glória, MG. A 10.0m × 43cm × 13cm aluminum plate treatment chamber was made with five 2.0 × 43cm × 14cm heads for germicidal UV lamps. The chamber was installed at the outlet of the mill for the passage of the UV-treated sugarcane juice in a continuous flow system. The effectiveness of the treatment was assayed by microbiological analyses of the cane juice at five treatment times. The statistical design was completely randomized, with five treatments and three replications, with a P value of 64.63%. Two types of fermented wines were analyzed: those from UV radiation-treated broth and the ones from untreated broth, consideration two treatments and 10 repetitions. The tests for acidity, alcohol percentage, and pH showed a P value higher than 0.05%. The cachaças produced with irradiated and non-irradiated sugarcane juice showed values in accordance with the current legislation. It was concluded that the physical and chemical characteristics of the sugarcane juice influenced the action of the radiation on the cane juice microorganisms. Only a small amount of microorganisms were eliminated, what demonstrates that ultraviolet radiation is not effective to eliminate the microbiota of sugarcane juice.