Confirmatory method for the determination of volatile congeners and methanol in Turkish raki according to European Union Regulation (EEC) No. 2000R2870: single-laboratory validation.

A method described by European Union Regulation (EEC) No. 2000R2870 was validated and supported by GC/MS analysis for the determination of volatile congeners and methanol in Turkish raki. The method was validated in terms of specificity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, linearity, and robustness. The specificity of the method was demonstrated, and the method showed excellent accuracy (97.5-100.1%). Linearity was checked in the ranges of 0.200-26.390 mg/100 mL for more volatile compounds and 1.155-48.00 mg/100 mL for less volatile compounds, after concentrations found in Turkish raki were taken into account. The calibration curves of all analytes showed good linearity (R2 > 0.998). The within- and between-day precision (RSD) values of 11 analytes were in the range of 0.18-4.50%. The LOD and LOQ values were in the range of 0.014-0.362 and 0.045-1.085 mg/100 mL, respectively. The method can be used as an absolute quantification method for the determination of volatile congeners and methanol in Turkish raki and for QC.