Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Rapid and mobile brand authentication of vodka using conductivity measurement

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Microchimica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract.

Conductivity measurement is introduced as a rapid, simple and cheap way to identify counterfeit vodka. It was found that the conductivity of vodka derives exclusively from its content of inorganic anions which were previously suggested as markers for vodka authenticity using ion chromatographic determination. The conductivity of vodka is very stable between different batches of bottle filling of the same brand, but there are large differences between different brands. Especially discount brands have significantly higher conductivities than premium products. The applicability of conductivity measurement was demonstrated in authentic forensic cases of brand fraud. A large advantage above other methods of authentication is the possibility to conduct conductivity measurements with mobile meters directly in gastronomy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • W A Simpkins (1988) Detection of Illicit Spirits H-F Linskens J F Jackson (Eds) Wine analysis Springer Berlin 317

    Google Scholar 

  • S A Savchuk V N Vlasov S A Appolonova V N Arbuzov A N Vedenin A B Mezinov B R Grigor’yan (2001) ArticleTitleApplication of chromatography and spectrometry to the authentication of alcoholic beverages J Anal Chem 56 214 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1009446221123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C Bauer-Christoph H Wachter N Christoph A Roßmann L Adam (1997) ArticleTitleAssignment of raw material and authentication of spirits by gas chromatography, hydrogen- and carbon-isotope ratio measurements Z Lebensm Unters Forsch 204 445 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002170050111 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXkt1Wjtro%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W A Simpkins (1985) ArticleTitleCongener profiles in the detection of illicit spirits J Sci Food Agric 36 367 Occurrence Handle10.1002/jsfa.2740360509 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaL2MXktlKjur0%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Guillou G J Martin J P Vidal R Cantagrel (1992) The applications of deuterium nuclear magnetic resonance to the analysis of spirit R Cantagrel (Eds) 1er Symposium Scientifique International de Cognac Lavoisier-Tec & Doc Paris, France 417

    Google Scholar 

  • I G Parker S D Kelly M Sharman M J Dennis D Howie (1998) ArticleTitleInvestigation into the use of carbon isotope ratios (13C/12C) of Scotch whisky congeners to establish brand authenticity using gas chromatography-combustion-isotope ratio mass spectrometry Food Chem 63 423 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0308-8146(98)00010-7 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXmtlKntL8%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • I C Goodall K J G Reid P A Brereton C Rhodes K Heaton (2004) The application of stable carbon isotope ratios to the authentication of Scotch whisky J H Bryce G G Stewart (Eds) Distilled spirits: tradition and innovation Nottingham University Press Nottingham 41

    Google Scholar 

  • B O Aguilar-Cisneros M G López E Richling F Heckel P Schreier (2002) ArticleTitleTequila authenticity assessment by headspace SPME-HRGC-IRMS analysis of 13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios of ethanol J Agric Food Chem 50 7520 Occurrence Handle10.1021/jf0207777 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38Xos1eisrg%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • C Bauer-Christoph N Christoph B O Aguilar-Cisneros M G López E Richling A Rossmann P Schreier (2003) ArticleTitleAuthentication of tequila by gas chromatography and stable isotope ratio analyses Eur Food Res Technol 217 438 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00217-003-0782-4 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXos1Okt7Y%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Baudler L Adam A Rossmann G Versini K H Engel (2006) ArticleTitleInfluence of the distillation step on the ratios of stable isotopes of ethanol in cherry brandies J Agric Food Chem 54 864 Occurrence Handle10.1021/jf052043a Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XjtFWjsg%3D%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • K H Engel R Baudler L Adam A Rossmann G Versini N Christoph C Bauer-Christoph (2007) ArticleTitleAssignment of the regional origin of cherry brandies by stable isotope analysis ACS Sym Ser 952 254 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXkvVSku7g%3D Occurrence Handle10.1021/bk-2007-0952.ch017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • G J Martin L Nicol N Naulent M L Martin (1998) ArticleTitleNew isotopic criteria for the short-term dating of brandies and spirits J Sci Food Agric 77 153 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199806)77:2<153::AID-JSFA19>3.0.CO;2-3 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXktVeitbk%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D W Lachenmeier (2007) ArticleTitleRapid quality control of spirit drinks and beer using multivariate data analysis of Fourier transform infrared spectra Food Chem 101 825 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.foodchem.2005.12.032 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xpt1ygurc%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • M Palma C G Barroso (2002) ArticleTitleApplication of FT-IR spectroscopy to the characterisation and classification of wines, brandies and other distilled drinks Talanta 58 265 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0039-9140(02)00244-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XmsVWhsbY%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D Picque P Lieben G Corrieu R Cantagrel O Lablanquie G Snakkers (2006) ArticleTitleDiscrimination of cognacs and other distilled drinks by mid-infrared spectropscopy J Agric Food Chem 54 5220 Occurrence Handle10.1021/jf060465u Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XmsVKmtbs%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D W Lachenmeier E Richling M G López W Frank P Schreier (2005) ArticleTitleMultivariate analysis of FTIR and ion chromatographic data for the quality control of tequila J Agric Food Chem 53 2151 Occurrence Handle10.1021/jf048637f Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtl2isLs%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • J K S Moller R R Catharino M N Eberlin (2005) ArticleTitleElectrospray ionization mass spectrometry fingerprinting of whisky: immediate proof of origin and authenticity Analyst 130 890 Occurrence Handle10.1039/b415422c Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXktlKrtbg%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • The International Anti-Counterfeiting Directory (2004) ICC Counterfeiting Intelligence Bureau, Barking, Essex

  • D W Lachenmeier R Attig W Frank C Athanasakis (2003) ArticleTitleThe use of ion chromatography to detect adulteration of vodka and rum Eur Food Res Technol 218 105 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00217-003-0799-8 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXpslChsLk%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameEuropean Council (1989) ArticleTitleCouncil Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89 laying down general rules on the definition, description and presentation of spirit drinks Off J Europ Comm L160 1

    Google Scholar 

  • G Ströhmer (2002) Extraktfreie und extraktarme Spirituosen E Kolb (Eds) Spirituosen-technologie B. Behr’s Verlag Hamburg, Germany 43

    Google Scholar 

  • V N Arbuzov S A Savchuk (2002) ArticleTitleIdentification of vodkas by ion chromatography and gas chromatography J Anal Chem 57 428 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1015413725953 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD38XktFGjt7g%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • W M MacKenzie R I Aylott (2004) ArticleTitleAnalytical strategies to confirm Scotch whisky authenticity. Part II: Mobile brand authentication Analyst 129 607 Occurrence Handle10.1039/b403068k Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXltVahtrc%3D

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Dirk W. Lachenmeier

  2. Bacardi GmbH, Hamburg, Germany

    Beke Schmidt & Thorsten Bretschneider

Authors
  1. Dirk W. Lachenmeier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Beke Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thorsten Bretschneider
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dirk W. Lachenmeier.

Additional information

Correspondence: Dirk W. Lachenmeier, Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weißenburger Str. 3, D-76187 Karlsruhe, Germany

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lachenmeier, D., Schmidt, B. & Bretschneider, T. Rapid and mobile brand authentication of vodka using conductivity measurement. Microchim Acta 160, 283–289 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-007-0825-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-007-0825-9

Search

Navigation