Comparison of methods for determining coumarins in distilled beverages

Two analytical methods, high performance liquid chromatography and spectrofluorimetry, were studied to determine the content of coumarins (umbelliferone, scopoletin and 4-methylumbelliferone, in distilled beverages). Hydro-alcohol standard solutions of known coumarin concentration and commercial white rum samples were used to compare them. After determining the coumarin content with both methods and performing a statistical analysis of the results obtained, the conclusion was reached that although both techniques are valid for this purpose, the spectrofluorimetric method is more accurate than high performance liquid chromatography.