This method describes the conditions under which sensory analysis should be carried out.
beer, beer-based beverages, non-alcoholic beverages, mineral water
One of the basic prerequisites for properly conducting sensory analysis is selecting suitable candidates as members of the tasting panel.
Malt intended for use in beer brewing or elsewhere in the food industry
A (modified) Congress wort is produced from malt samples prior to analysis. NDMA present in the Congress wort is extracted using dichloromethane followed by concentration of the eluate. The determination is performed with a gas chromatograph using a packed Carbowax 20M column with a specific TEA detector (thermal energy analyzer); nitrosodipropylamine (NDPA) serves as an internal standard.
This detector analyzes nitrosamine according to the following procedure:
After exiting the GC column, the separated substances are heated to 500 °C in a pyrolyzer. At this temperature, the N-NO bond of the nitrosamine is broken, thus forming an NO radical (NO۰):
The gas mixture then flows through a special filter (CTRTM gas stream filter), which only allows the carrier gas and the NO radicals to pass. After exiting the filter, the NO radicals flow into a reaction chamber along with ozone, which is created by a special generator. The following chemical reactions take place in the chamber:
|
NO• + O3 |
→ |
NO2• |
|
NO2• |
→ |
NO2 + h•ν |
These NO radicals react with ozone, forming nitrogen dioxide in an excited state (NO2•). The NO2• molecules decompose spontaneously to form nitrogen dioxide in its common form (NO2), emitting radiation (h•ν) with a wavelength of approx. 600 nm.
This method is suitable for the determination of steam-volatile aroma compounds in wort.
Volatile aroma compounds are driven out of the sample through steam distillation. The ethanol distillate is adjusted to be alkaline and saturated with NaCl. The extraction of the aroma compounds is performed by shaking out with dichloromethane and the phases separated by centrifuging. The organic phase is further concentrated in a stream of nitrogen gas. An ammonia solution is added to remove the acids, because the acids would co-elute, thus preventing quantification of the target substances.
The method is suitable for the determination of water vapor volatile aroma compounds in beer.
Volatile aroma compounds are driven out of the sample through steam distillation. The ethanolic distillate is saturated with NaCl. Potassium hydrogen sulfite is added to separate carbonyl groups that might interfere with the analysis. The extraction of the aroma compounds is performed by shaking out with dichloromethane and the phases separated by centrifuging.
Barley malt (pilsner malt) and smoked malt intended for use in beer brewing or elsewhere in the food industry
The phenol fraction collected through steam distillation is mixed with 4-amino- 2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one (4-aminophenazone) under alkaline conditions and oxidized by potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) to form a pigment (fig. 1), which after extraction with chloroform, can be measured spectrophotometrically.
The method is suitable for the determination of steam-volatile aging indicators in beer.
Volatile aging indicator substances are driven out of the sample through steam distillation. The ethanol distillate is adjusted to be alkaline and saturated with NaCl. The extraction of the aroma compounds is performed by shaking out with dichloromethane and the phases separated by centrifuging. The organic phase is further concentrated in a stream of nitrogen gas. Ammonia solution is added to remove the acids, as the acids would coelute, thus preventing the quantification of important substances.