Development of a hydrid electronic tongue aiming to discrimination of beers

• Grant number: 12/20387-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Thiago Regis Longo Cesar da Paixão
• Grantee: João Ricardo Coelho Junqueira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Different analytical techniques could be used to characterize the substance responsible for the organoleptic properties of beer samples. However, beer constituents comprise more than 800 compounds and many of them contribute to its flavor characteristics, i.e., creating a chemical fingerprint of the sample. In the case of so complex samples, it is difficult to choose one classical method for evaluating the sample, nevertheless, in this analysis, it is more important to obtain information about the overall composition of the sample and which makes it unique versus other samples (chemical fingerprint). Hence, the use of alternative analytical tools or techniques to analyze such sample becomes necessary. Accordingly, the characteristics of the electronic tongues are in line with the needs for this type of analysis. In this project we intend to develop and study the operation of new smart devices (electronic tongues) using electrochemical measurements and mass together with chemometric tools, in order to discriminate samples of food interest (beers, according to origin and manufacturing process). (AU)