The analysis of sulphur compounds in beer

A gas chromatographic method for the routine analysis of volatile and semi-volatile sulphur compounds in beer was developed. Various selective and specific detectors, capillary columns and methods of sample preparation were compared. The combination offering the best sensitivity and stability consisted of solid phase microextraction (SPME) as the sample preparation step; a combined polar/non-polar chromatographic column; and a pulsed flame photometric detector (PFPD). All parameters were optimised to achieve maximum sensitivity. The system was linear for the range of sulphur compound concentrations found in beer, and displayed good reproducibility. The calibrated SPME-GC-PFPD system was used to analyse several different varieties of beer from a range of breweries, and to investigate the change in the concentrations of sulphur compounds when beer is subjected to illumination.