Gas-liquid chromatographic determination of ethanol in “Alcohol-Free” beverages and fruit juices

Summary

A rapid, sensitive and direct method is described for the detemination of ethanol in “Alcohol-Free” beverages and fruit juices. A known amount of internal standard is added to the sample and a 0.1 mm³ aliquot is injected directly into a gas chromatograph. Ethanol concentrations as low as 0.005% v/v can be detected and quantitatively determined. Five brands of beer, seven brands of grape juice and four brands of apple juice; all labelled “Alcohol-Free” were analyzed. Ethanol in concentrations ranging from 0.009% v/v to 0.385% v/v was found. These findings indicate that these products are not actually “Alcohol-Free” but alcohol-low or alcohol-poor.