Acetic acid makes up 95% of the steam distillable, short-chain organic acids in wines known as volatile acidity, an indicator of microbial spoilage. Colorimetric gas detection tubes originally developed for the mining industry have successfully been adapted to measurement of SO<sub>2</sub> and H<sub>2</sub>S in wines, and a modified method was developed for acetic acid measurement in this work. A preconditioned plastic syringe is used to contain the sample and headspace, to which a Luer two-way valve is attached and closed until equilibrium is reached. The gas detection tube is attached to the valve and the headspace gas expelled through the tube to take the measurement. This method has yielded promising results for model wine solutions thus far, and if sensitivity can be improved, it could replace the traditional Cash still method.

Determining volatile acidity in wines through acetic acid gas detection tubes

249th National Meeting (2015)

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