Methanol content of grappa made from New York grape pomace.

This research was undertaken to determine the methanol content of grappa made from the sweet pomace of five grape varieties grown in the Finger Lakes wine region of New York state. The mean concentrations of methanol (N=3) in the distilled spirits made from the pomace samples of Niagara, Cayuga White, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, and Riesling grapes were estimated to be 44, 38, 138, 55, and 112 mg/100mL of 40% alcohol, respectively. The results of this work indicate that the sweet pomace of five New York grape varieties could be used in the production of grappa with a methanol level within the United States legal limit of 280 mg/100mL of 40% alcohol.

Production of probiotic cabbage juice by lactic acid bacteria.

Research was undertaken to determine the suitability of cabbage as a raw material for production of probiotic cabbage juice by lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum C3, Lactobacillus casei A4, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii D7). Cabbage juice was inoculated with a 24-h-old lactic culture and incubated at 30 degrees C. Changes in pH, acidity, sugar content, and viable cell counts during fermentation under controlled conditions were monitored. L. casei, L. delbrueckii, and L. plantarum grew well on cabbage juice and reached nearly 10x10(8) CFU/mL after 48 h of fermentation at 30 degrees C. L. casei, however, produced a smaller amount of titratable acidity expressed as lactic acid than L. delbrueckii or L. plantarum. After 4 weeks of cold storage at 4 degrees C, the viable cell counts of L. plantarum and L. delbrueckii were still 4.1x10(7) and 4.5x10(5) mL(-1), respectively. L. casei did not survive the low pH and high acidity conditions in fermented cabbage juice and lost cell viability completely after 2 weeks of cold storage at 4 degrees C. Fermented cabbage juice could serve as a healthy beverage for vegetarians and lactose-allergic consumers.

Probiotication of tomato juice by lactic acid bacteria.

This study was undertaken to determine the suitability of tomato juice as a raw material for production of probiotic juice by four lactic acid bacteria (Latobacillus acidophilus LA39, Lactobacillus plantarum C3, Lactobacillus casei A4, and Lactobacillus delbrueckii D7). Tomato juice was inoculated with a 24-h-old culture and incubated at 30 degrees C. Changes in pH, acidity, sugar content, and viable cell counts during fermentation under controlled conditions were measured. The lactic acid cultures reduced the pH to 4.1 or below and increased the acidity to 0.65% or higher, and the viable cell counts (CFU) reached nearly 1.0 to 9.0 x 10(9)/ml after 72 h fermentation. The viable cell counts of the four lactic acid bacteria in the fermented tomato juice ranged from 10(6) to 10(8) CFU/ml after 4 weeks of cold storage at 4 degrees C. Probiotic tomato juice could serve as a health beverage for vegetarians or consumers who are allergic to dairy products.

Utilization of corn silage juice by Klyuveromyces marxianus.

Corn silage juice was found to be a favorable substrate for production of fodder yeasts. Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-610 yielded significantly more cell dry weight than other cultures examined. In shake-flask experiments, the yeast produced over 13 g of cell dry weight per liter of corn silage juice and completely consumed the organic pollutants (lactic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol). The yeast settled rapidly and had a yeast volume index of 21 ml/g. The results indicate that K. marxianus NRRL Y-610 could be used to efficiently remove lactic acid and other organic compounds from corn silage juice with the concomitant production of fodder yeast.

Factors affecting the methanol content and yield of plum brandy.

UNLABELLED: This study was conducted to determine the influence of plum cultivar, harvest year, and plum component on the methanol content and the yield of plum brandy. Seven plum cultivars (Geneva Mirabelle, French Damson, Pozegaca, Oblinaya, Early Golden, Lohr, and Rosy Gage) grown in the Finger Lakes fruit region of New York State were processed into mash and juice. The samples of plum mash or juice were fermented with commercial Red Star wine yeast Montrachet (Sachharomyces cerevisiae Davis 522) for 12 d. The fermented samples were distilled, and the distillates were analyzed for methanol, ethanol, and higher alcohols by high-performance liquid chromatography. Duncan's multiple range tests show significant differences in the methanol content and the yield of plum brandy made from 7 plum cultivars. The harvest year also had a significant effect on the methanol content and the yield of plum brandy. Student's t-test results indicate that plum juices gave a lower methanol content of brandy than plum mashes without significantly reducing the brandy yield. The results of the current research can be used by the industry to select the better plum cultivar and to adopt the process to improve the product yield and quality. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The brandy industry can apply the results of the current research to improve product yield and to reduce the methanol content of plum brandy. The economic benefits to the brandy producers adopting the brandy production process will be significant due to the sales of new products with an acceptable level of methanol.

Influence of apple cultivar and juice pasteurization on hard cider and eau-de-vie methanol content.

Apple eau-de-vie is a traditional alcoholic beverage produced in France by distillation of fermented apple juice (hard cider). The current research was undertaken to determine the methanol content of hard cider and apple eau-de-vie made from four apple cultivars grown in the Finger Lakes region of New York State. The methanol concentration of hard cider varied from 0.037% to approximately 0.091%, and the methanol content of apple eau-de-vie ranged from below 200 mg to more than 400 mg/100mL of 40% ethanol. The United States legal limit of methanol for fruit brandy is 0.35% by volume or 280 mg/100mL of 40% ethanol. Of the four apple cultivars examined, Crispin apples yielded significantly more methanol in hard cider and eau-de-vie than Empire, Jonagold or Pacific Rose apples. Pasteurization of Crispin apple juice prior to alcoholic fermentation significantly reduced the methanol content of hard cider and eau-de-vie.