Total Polyphenols in Beer with UV Vis Spectroscopy

In this application note, the absorbance of the colored complex formed by reacting polyphenols in beer with iron(III) ions is measured using a UV7 Excellence Spectrophotometer. For more information, download the application note.

What Are Polyphenols in Beer? 

Phenolic compounds from malt and hops get into the beer in variable quantities depending on the production technique. Depending on their structure and molecular size, they strongly influence various beer characteristics such as color, taste, taste stability, foam, and chemical-physical stability.

How Is the Total Polyphenol Content Determined Spectrophotometrically?

In this application note, polyphenols are reacted with iron(III) ions in an alkaline solution to form a colored iron complex. The absorbance of the colored complex is measured by a spectrophotometric method.

While the application note and the method were developed using a UV/VIS Excellence spectrophotometer, the method described in the application note can also be adapted to EasyPlus UV/VIS spectrophotometers.

Download the application note for complete information on the sample preparation, method, and results.