Applications

Currently, there are no simple tests to identify counterfeit beer. This Application Note demonstrates the ability of i-Raman EX, the B&W Tek Laboratory Raman instrument with a 1064 nm laser, with principal component analysis (PCA) to distinguish between beers from different brewers and from a mixture of beers.

This Application Note presents ion chromatography as a precise method to analyze anions in beer as well as cations with non-suppressed conductivity. Automation with Inline Ultrafiltration is also discussed.

Determination of fluoride, chloride, phosphate, and sulfate in beer wort using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after chemical suppression.

Determination of chlorite, chloride, sulfite, and oxalate in beer using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after chemical suppression.

Fast IC means a high sample throughput. This is attained with short columns, relatively high flows and strong eluents. Sulfite can be determined in beer alongside sulfate and other anions with the Metrosep A Supp 10 - 50/4.0.

Beer is a popular beverage consumed by millions of people for enjoyment, despite its humble beginnings as a water purification technique in pre-modern times. Brewing beer requires large amounts of water which must adhere to strict alkalinity, hardness, and pH parameters to ensure uniformity in flavor and appearance between each batch. Alkalinity is introduced by carbonates and hydroxides in water which raise and buffer the pH. Hardness, balanced to a large degree by the alkalinity, comes from Ca and Mg ions, mainly present as hydrogen carbonates. Depending on the concentration ranges, the 2035 Process Analyzer or the 2060 Process Analyzer are ideally suited for the fully automatic execution of these important analyses, as well as additional parameters like pH or conductivity. These process analyzers can signal the plant’s distribution system to correct the water chemistry, ensuring consistent product quality. In addition to alkalinity and water hardness, numerous other parameters can also be determined (pH, conductivity, etc.).

Determination of chloride, phosphate, sulfite, bromide, nitrate, and sulfate in a beer using anion chromatography with conductivity detection after chemical suppression.

The alpha acid level (AA%) in hops plays a major role in the bitterness they can impart to beer. The AA% can vary between 1% up to 20% in hops. During boiling in the brewing process, alpha acids transform into iso-alpha acids which make the beer bitter. For this reason, it is important for brewers to know the exact AA value of the hops they use. The determination of AA% in hops with conductometric titration according to the EBC method 7.4 is shown in this Application Note.

Beer wort is the liquid in which malt starch is converted enzymatically into sugars and is additionally flavored and preserved with hops. The most important sugars for beer brewing are maltose and maltotriose, which will be fermented into alcohol by the added brewing yeast. The composition of carbohydrates in wort is determined on a Metrosep Carb 2 - 250/4.0 column applying a Dose-in gradient to optimize resolution and duration of the analysis.

By using an enzymatic sensor with a screen-printed electrode, producers can measure lactic acid production, thereby monitoring fermentation processes.

Efficiently analyze food products with ion chromatography (IC). Discover its robust applications in quality control for beverages, food additives, and dairy.

Spectroelectrochemistry is a multi-response technique that provides both electrochemical and spectroscopic information about a chemical system in a single experiment, i.e., it offers information from two different points of view. Spectroelectrochemistry focused on the UV/VIS region is one of the most important combinations because this allows us to obtain not only valuable qualitative information, but also outstanding quantitative results. In this application note, the degradation kinetics for 4-nitrophenol, a known pollutant, were determined using SPELEC.

In-situ spectroelectrochemistry provides dynamic electrochemical and spectroscopic information concurrently with the redox reaction occurring on the electrode surface. Although different spectroelectrochemical configurations can be used, simple equations explain how to relate electrochemistry and spectroscopy for each experimental setup. This Application Note describes how the quantification of one electrochemical parameter (the diffusion coefficient) is calculated from the spectroscopic data as a proof of this concept.