Near-infrared spectroscopy: a rapid alternative technique to reducing sugars determination in juice of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.)

Context: The work in the field, in the production of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.), makes it necessary to have quick and simple methods of detecting different compounds. Aims: To optimize the analysis of glucose and fructose in juice of sugarcane in field, we studied the possibility the use of Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and their correlation with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (reference method) to reporting from the laboratory reliable in short time data. Methods: Sugarcane samples were collected in the field. The extraction of cane juice was done by macerating pieces of sugarcane. The determination of glucose and fructose was carried out by reference method HPLC and by NIR in the transmittance mode. Through chemometrics and principal components analysis, the calibration model was developed. Results: The statistical parameters of the regression method were obtained as the coefficient of determination of 0.9717 and 0.9965, and smallest calibration error of 0.0681 and 0.0229. The standard prediction error was predicted between 0.136 and 0.08 for glucose and fructose, respectively, using the regression model. The above statistical variables indicated the high correlation between HPLC and NIR. Conclusions: These results allow to incorporate the NIR technique in the routine of analysis of samples, complementing the quality analysis of sugarcane juice (quality control field).