How discrete wet chemical analysis is bringing flexible, cost-effective multiparameter testing to the beverage industry

Significance of the topic

Quality, consistency and regulatory compliance are critical in beverage manufacturing. Rapid, reliable wet-chemical analysis across production—from point-of-entry water to final product and waste streams—reduces batch failures, protects brand reputation and ensures legal limits and label claims are met. Multiparameter testing that is flexible, cost-effective and automation-friendly therefore directly supports profitability, process control and environmental stewardship in breweries, wineries, juice processing and other beverage operations.

Objectives and overview of the study

This document summarizes how discrete wet-chemistry analysis, exemplified by the Thermo Scientific Gallery discrete analyzer, consolidates many standard beverage tests into a single automated platform. The overview focuses on application at Montana State University’s Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab (MSU), highlighting workflow efficiencies, analytical capability expansion, throughput and cost implications compared with traditional continuous-flow wet-chemistry systems (flow-injection or segmented-flow analyzers).

Methodology and analytical approach

The discrete analyzer performs individual colorimetric/photometric reactions in isolated wells (discrete photometry), allowing multiple chemistries to be run from a single sample aliquot. Key practical features and operating parameters reported by MSU include:

• Sample consumption: typically ≤300 μL per test, enabling micro- and pico-scale sample workflows for limited material (important in breeding programs).
• Throughput: up to ~200 tests per hour and typically ~32 samples/day in the MSU routine.
• Parallel multiparameter capability: up to ~20 parameters per sample on a single run.
• Temperature control and optics: instrument run temperature ~37 °C; 12 wavelengths spanning ~340–880 nm to accommodate diverse assays.
• Reagent and sample handling: multi-rack capacity (e.g., six racks for reagents/samples), small reagent volumes and reduced waste vs. continuous-flow analyzers.
• Calibration and workflow: typical calibration for four parameters ~1 hour; daily analysis including references ~1.5 hours; reagent preparation 10–15 minutes (or shortened using ready-to-use reagents).

The approach permits consolidation of assays that traditionally required distinct instruments (pH/conductivity meters, auto-titrators, HPLC, spectrophotometers, ion meters, FIA/SFA), replacing them with a single discrete analyzer for many common beverage and barley/malt tests.

Used instrumentation

• Thermo Scientific Gallery discrete analyzer (platform used at MSU).
• Reagents adapted or standardized by MSU for specific assays (examples below include starch substrates, NADP+-based reagents, OPA for NOPA/FAN, calcofluor for β-glucan, iodine for α-amylase, buffer systems, etc.).
• Common ancillary items: calibrated standards, racks for reagent/sample storage, temperature-controlled reaction chamber, photometric detection across multiple wavelengths.

Main results and discussion

The MSU laboratory reported that migrating key barley/malt and brewing assays to the Gallery discrete analyzer produced robust, repeatable results with high correlation to industry-standard methods, while reducing hands-on time, reagent use and waste. Representative assay performance (typical values observed at MSU):

• Diastatic power (DP): reagents include starch, α-glucosidase and NADP+/ADP systems; detection at 340 nm. DP calibration showed high linearity (R ~0.9977). Typical DP data: mean ~132 °ASBC, SD ~4.65, range 121–141 °ASBC.
• α-Amylase: starch substrate with iodine detection at 660 nm. Calibration linearity reported around R ~0.9984; typical results mean ~66 DU, SD ~3.24, range 60–72 DU.
• Free amino nitrogen (FAN, NOPA method): OPA/NAC chemistry, detection at 340 nm. Typical values mean ~167 mg/L, SD ~3.89, range 160–174 mg/L; calibration R ~0.9977.
• β-Glucan: calcofluor-based assay, detection at 405 nm. Very high calibration linearity reported (R ~0.9999); typical mean ~103 ppm, SD ~12.4, range 83–123 ppm (noting higher biological variability for breeding materials).

Key operational observations: the instrument’s open architecture allowed MSU to optimize reagent mixes and calibration strategies (e.g., expanded calibration ranges, internal standard dilutions). Small sample volume capability supported breeding and micro-malting workflows. The lab also emphasized consistent sampling and controlled handling (e.g., 1-hour filtration of worts, standardized storage) as essential to analytical consistency.

Benefits and practical applications

• Consolidation: many assays normally requiring multiple specialized instruments can be centralized on a single discrete analyzer, simplifying lab layouts and training requirements.
• Cost and waste reduction: lower reagent and sample volumes reduce per-test consumable cost and chemical waste; Thermo reports per-analysis cost reductions of 10–20× relative to traditional wet-chemistry approaches.
• Throughput and automation: walkaway operation and high test-per-hour capacity improve productivity and allow staff to focus on sample prep or higher-value tasks.
• Flexibility: open-method architecture enables in-house development, method adaptation and addition of new assays (important for research, breeding programs and evolving QA needs).
• Suitability for QA/QC: accurate monitoring of water quality (POE and wastewater), raw materials (barley), intermediates (wort) and finished beverages (beer, wine, juice) for parameters affecting taste, stability and regulatory compliance.

Future trends and opportunities for application

• Method extension: further expansion of validated assays on discrete platforms (e.g., additional organic acids, sugars, and trace metals) will broaden applicability across beverage categories.
• Integration with digital QA: automated data handling, LIMS connectivity and trends analysis will improve process control and predictive maintenance of production lines.
• Miniaturization and sustainability: continued reduction in sample and reagent volumes combined with reagent-stability improvements will decrease environmental footprint and operational costs.
• Support for breeding and R&D: ability to run low-volume samples reliably will enable high-throughput phenotyping in crop breeding and small-batch formulation studies.
• Hybrid analytical workflows: discrete analyzers can coexist with chromatography and spectrometry where confirmatory or trace-level analyses are required, enabling tiered testing strategies.

Conclusion

Discrete wet-chemical analyzers such as the Thermo Scientific Gallery provide a practical, high-throughput alternative to traditional continuous-flow wet chemistry for many beverage industry assays. The MSU case demonstrates that discrete platforms can deliver accurate, reproducible results with substantially lower sample/reagent consumption, reduced waste and improved laboratory efficiency. Their flexibility and automation potential make them well suited for QA/QC, R&D and breeding programs in breweries and broader beverage production, supporting consistent product quality and lower operational costs.

References

1. SelectScience webinar, Thermo Scientific Gallery discrete analyzer demonstration, Montana State University Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab (online webinar recording, 2020).