Samples of distillates derived from the production of wine-fortifying spirit were analyzed for methanol by gas chromatography (GC) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). NIRS calibration models were developed which could accurately predict methanol concentrations in samples of fortifying spirit that had been produced over a period of three years from four different commercial distillation facilities. The best accuracy of the predictive models, as measured by the standard error of prediction value, was 0.06 g/L methanol. Other distillation fractions, produced during preparation of commercial fortifying spirit, were also examined. The most useful NIRS calibration models used partial least squares regression on continuous spectra from a scanning instrument, but it was demonstrated that calibrations could also be developed with a smaller number of fixed wavelengths, using multiple linear regression models. NIRS offers the advantages of rapid analysis, with simple routine operation, and may offer the potential for in-line process control in the operation of a commercial distillation facility.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Research Division:	Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences
Research Group:	Horticultural production
Research Field:	Oenology and viticulture
Objective Division:	Plant Production and Plant Primary Products
Objective Group:	Industrial crops
Objective Field:	Wine grapes
UTAS Author:	Dambergs, RG (Dr Robert Dambergs)
ID Code:	81394
Year Published:	2002
Web of Science® Times Cited:	65
Deposited By:	Agricultural Science
Deposited On:	2012-12-04
Last Modified:	2012-12-04
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