Determination of Cu, Cd, Pb and V in sugar cane spirit samples by EDXRF after preconcentration using CoFe 2 O 4 A method for the determination of Cu, Cd, Pb and V in Brazilian sugarcane spirit ("cachaça" in Brazil) using CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles impregnated with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-naphthol (PAN) for extraction of the metals with posterior determination by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry directly in the solid phase is described. The recommended conditions for extraction were: pH 6.0 (1.0 mol L −1 hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA)/ nitric acid buffer solution); sample volume, 25 mL; and nanoparticle mass, 100 mg. The precisions for the determination of each element, expressed as relative standard deviations (RSD) of standard solutions containing 0.20 mg L −1 of each analyte, were 1.5, 1.8, 1.2 and 2.9% (n = 10), respectively. Limits of detection of 0.032, 0.038, 0.016 and 0.028 mg L-1 were obtained for Cu, Cd, Pb and V, respectively. Addition and recovery tests were performed, and the results ranged from 97 to 115% for Cu, 85 to 115% for Cd, 85 to 99% for Pb and 85 to 110% for V. The method was successfully applied in extraction and determination of Cd, Pb, Cu and V in sugar cane spirit samples from Brazil.