On the use of the fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible and near infrared spectroscopy with chemometrics for the discrimination between plum brandies of different varietal origins.

This paper investigates the use of synchronous fluorescence, UV-Vis and near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy coupled with chemometric methods to discriminate samples of high-quality plum brandies (Slivovica) of different varietal origins (Prunus domestica L.). Synchronous fluorescence spectra (SFS) for wavelength differences in the range of 70-100nm, NIR spectra in the wavenumber range of 4000-7500cm-1 and UV-Vis spectra in the wavelength interval of 220-320nm were compared. The best discrimination models were created by linear discriminant analysis based on principal component analysis applied to SFS recorded with wavelength difference either 80nm or 100nm, allowing the classification of plum brandy according to harvest time as early (summer) and late (autumn) plum varieties; the total correct classifications were 96% and 100% for the calibration and prediction steps, respectively.