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.
Determination of the steam-volatile acids by means of titration
This method serves as a means for determining the titratable steam-volatile acids in beverages and concentrates
Volatile acids are distilled using steam, and the distillate is analyzed through titration. Sulfurous acid present in the distillate is determined iodometrically and subtracted from the total.
Determination the viscosity in beverages
wort, beer, beer-based beverages, juices, beverages in general
The amount of time required for a special ball to fall while sinking through a glass tube filled with a sample liquid between two marks is measured. The precision of this method is increased if the time is measured using a photoelectric beam to an accuracy of 0.01 s, rather than manually with a stopwatch.
Determination of the viscosity of beverages
wort, beer, beer-based beverages, NAB, juice, beverages in general
These devices measure the torque transferred through a cylindrical liquid layer between a stationary and a rotating disc. This method also allows changes in viscosity, which occur, e.g., through the action of α-amylase on starch, to be automatically recorded by a plotter or PC.
Determination of the viscosity of beverages
wort, beer, beer-based beverages, NAB, juice, beverages in general
Capillary viscometers measure the kinematic viscosity of Newtonian fluids, unlike falling ball and the rotational viscometers, which directly measure the dynamic viscosity. However, with values for the kinematic viscosity and the density of the test liquid, the dynamic viscosity can be calculated.
The time required for a volumetrically defined amount of fluid (the volume between two marks on the tube of the viscometer) to flow through a capillary of a defined length is measured.
1 square meter per second of a homogenous fluid with a dynamic viscosity of 1 Pa × s and a density 1 kg/m³
The unit for expressing kinematic viscosity (the relationship of viscosity to density = viscoplasticity) is 1 m²/s = 106 mm²/s
The kinematic viscosity is expressed as 1 square meter per second of a homogenous fluid with a dynamic viscosity of 1 Pa × s and a density 1 kg/m³.