Rapid, Quantitative, and Automated Headspace Analysis of Beer Volatiles. A. W. Dercksen, C. Carter, and P. A. Torline, S. A. Breweries Ltd., Central Laboratory, P. O. Box 10, Isando, 1600, Transvaal, South Africa. J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 44:0110, 1986.

Beer volatiles were quantitatively analyzed by an automated dynamic nonequilibrium headspace gas chromatography technique. The system described consists of two Tekmar LSC-2 purge-and-trap systems connected in a master/slave configuration to a dual channel gas chromatograph. The operational procedure and the problems encountered are discussed. Modifications to the equipment were made to correct problems associated with both system design errors and the foaming and CO₂ content of the beer. The alcohols and esters of beer were quantitated with a coefficient of variation of better than 10% across two systems. The system can analyze over 6,000 samples per year.

Keywords: Dynamic headspace, High-resolution gas chromatography, Multiplant brewing, Quantitative beer volatile analysis