Measurement of Volatile Sulfur Compounds in Beer Using Gas Chromatography with a Sulfur Chemiluminescence Detector

Abstract

Volatile sulfur compounds are flavor-active beer constituents. Historically, gas chromatography using a flame photometric detector (FPD) has been used for their analysis. The drawbacks of this system include nonlinear detector response and hydrocarbon quenching. Therefore, the Sievers SCD 350 sulfur chemiluminescence detector was evaluated as a replacement for the FPD and was found to have better selectivity, sensitivity, and linearity. It was not susceptible to hydrocarbon-quenching effects. Instrument modifications needed to adapt this detector were minimal, although an existing flame ionization detector was required. A simple, inexpensive sampling apparatus is described. A survey of various beer types is presented, and the effect of detector supply gas on sensitivity is discussed.