Determination of Metals in Wort and Beer Samples using the Agilent 5110 ICP-OES

Significance of the Topic

Monitoring metal concentrations in wort and finished beer is essential for ensuring product quality, flavor consistency and brewing efficiency. Metals originate from raw materials, water and equipment, and can be intentionally added or inadvertently introduced. Precise control of elements such as Ca, Mg, Zn and Fe is critical to pH adjustment, enzyme activity and prevention of off-flavors.

Goals and Study Overview

This study aimed to develop and validate a rapid, accurate method for simultaneous determination of eight metals (Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn) in beer and wort using the Agilent 5110 Vertical Dual View ICP-OES. Key objectives included establishing method detection limits, calibration linearity, quality-control recoveries and demonstrating routine applicability in a brewery environment.

Methodology

Sample preparation involved sonication of beer to remove CO₂ followed by dilution with nitric acid; wort samples were filtered, acidified and spiked with ethanol. Multi-element calibration standards ranged from trace levels for minor metals to tens of mg/L for major elements. Continuing Calibration Verifications (CCVs), spike recovery checks and internal standards (gallium, yttrium) ensured accuracy. Detection limits were computed from blank replicates and method detection limits from spiked sample replicates.

Used Instrumentation

Agilent 5110 Vertical Dual View ICP-OES with SeaSpray nebulizer, double-pass cyclonic spray chamber and 1.8 mm injector torch
27 MHz solid-state RF system for stable plasma
Vista Chip II CCD detector for fast, high-precision measurements
Axial and radial viewing modes combined in a single run
ICP Expert software with IntelliQuant semiquantitative feature enabling up to 70-element screening

Main Results and Discussion

Detection limits for all elements were below 1 µg/L, with method detection limits suitable for both wort and beer matrices. Calibration curves exhibited correlation coefficients >0.999 and calibration errors <10 %. Quality-control spike recoveries were consistently within ±10 % of target values. Measured element concentrations in wort ranged from hundreds to over a thousand mg/L for major elements and tens to hundreds of µg/L for trace metals; finished beer showed similar profiles with slight concentration shifts due to processing. IntelliQuant screening revealed significant silicon content derived from barley, demonstrating the value of semiquantitative profiling.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Rapid multi-element analysis supports routine brewery quality control.
• Wide dynamic range accommodates major nutrients and trace contaminants in a single run.
• Low argon consumption and high throughput reduce operating costs.
• IntelliQuant screening allows broader element monitoring without method changes.

Future Trends and Applications

• Integration of real-time, inline analysis for automated process control.
• Enhanced semiquantitative tools for non-targeted element profiling.
• Miniaturized and portable ICP-OES systems for field testing at production sites.
• Coupling with speciation techniques to assess bioavailability and flavor impact of metal species.

Conclusion

The Agilent 5110 VDV ICP-OES method provides robust, precise and efficient determination of multiple metals in beer and wort. Its combined viewing modes and advanced software features make it well suited for brewery laboratories, enabling brewers to optimize quality at each production stage and to extend monitoring to additional elements via semiquantitative screening.

References

• Sedin D, Williams S, Kulikov E, Nelson J, Gilleland G. Determination of metals in wort and beer samples using the Agilent 5110 VDV ICP-OES. Agilent Technologies Application Note 5991-8394EN, 2017.