VIEW ARTICLE    DOI: 10.1094/ASBCJ-48-0018

Automated Bitterness Determination of Beer Utilizing a Micro Phase Separator and Flow Injection Analysis. Kevin J. Switala and Karl G. Schick, FIAtron Systems, Inc., Oconomowoc, WI 53066. J. Am. Soc. Brew. Chem. 48:0018, 1990.

An automated method is described for determining bitterness in beer utilizing a unique micro phase separator and flow injection analysis (FIA). In the FIA method, a fixed volume of degassed beer at room temperature is injected into an unsegmented carrier stream containing 0.3N hydrochloric acid, which is subsequently merged with an immiscible isooctane stream. After on-stream mixing, the organic isooctane phase is extracted with a micro phase separator, and the absorbance of the organic phase is determined at 275 nm. The material, construction, and design of the micro phase separator are discussed, and the separation of the isooctane from the aqueous phase is described.

Keywords: Beer, Bitterness, Flow injection analysis, Phase separator