Determination of the concentration of dissolved carbon dioxide in carbonated beverages in bottles and cans
The total gas pressure in beer is measured after the beer has been forcefully shaken. The carbon dioxide is then bound through the addition of potassium hydroxide. The amount of air in the beer contributes the remaining volume of gas. Once the value for the total pressure has been corrected by subtracting the quantity of air present in the beer, the carbon dioxide can be measured [1].
Determination of the total air in bottles and cans
Determination of the total air in containers for beer, beer-based beverages and carbonated beverages
Through heating and shaking, the gases contained in beer are collected in a burette filled with potassium hydroxide. The carbon dioxide is bound by potassium hydroxide, and the remaining volume of gas, consisting of oxygen and nitrogen, is measured [1].
Determination of caffeine and theobromine using HPLC
This method is suitable for beverages containing caffeine, tea-based beverages and NAB.
Caffeine and theobromine are separated using HPLC and reversed phases and determined by means of UV detection.
Analysis for determining the taurine content after derivatization using HPLC
This analysis is suitable for energy drinks and NAB.
Taurine is derivatized using dansyl chloride, separated using HPLC in reversed phases and determined with a fluorescence detector.
Determination of the soluble dry matter by means of a refractometer
non-alcoholic beverages, juices
The quantity of soluble dry matter is determined refractometrically. This is related to the percent by weight of sucrose in an aqueous sucrose solution, which under defined conditions possesses the same refraction index as that of the product being analyzed. The amount of soluble dry matter is expressed in g per 100 g of solution. The refraction index is not determined directly for non-alcoholic soft drinks, but rather by means of a scale based on the percentage of sucrose by weight (°Brix). Since the °Brix scale uses sucrose, correction factors for other sugars must be taken from tables for each individual type of sugar. The presence of other substances, such as organic acids, minerals and amino acids, has an effect on the refraction index of a product. Due to the high acidity of citrus juices and citrus juice concentrates, correction factors are also necessary for measuring their °Brix values.
Determination of the total acidity through titration
This method is used to determine the total titratable acids in beverages and concentrates.
Titratable acidity represents the sum of the free acids present in a beverage, with the exception of the dissolved carbon dioxide (carbonic acid). In fruit juices and the beverages prepared from them, they usually consist of malic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid.
The titration of the degassed beverage sample (freed from carbonic acid) is carried out potentiometrically using 0.25 mol/l sodium hydroxide solution either to a pH of 7.0 calculated as tartaric acid or to a pH of 8.1 calculated as citric acid.