BEVERAGE DEOXYGENATION THROUGH ELECTROCHEMICALLY REGENERATEDMETAL CHELATES

A METHOD OF BEVERAGE (WINE, FRUIT JUICE) DEOXYGENATION HAS BEEN DEVELOPED USING ELECTROCHEMICALLY REGENERATED METAL CHELATES TO REMOVE THE OXYGEN FROM A RECYCLING GAS STREAM. THE GAS STREAM WHICH IS USED TO DEOXYGENATE THE BEVERAGE IS FED TO THE ELECTROCHEMICALLY REGENERATED METAL CHELATE SOLUTION WHERE THE OXYGEN IS SELECTIVELY REMOVED. THE GAS IS THEN RETURNED TO THE BEVERAGE TO FURTHER DEOXYGENATE THE FLUID. THE SYSTEM HAS THE ADVANTAGE THAT FLAVOR COMPONENTS ARE NOT REMOVED. THE REACTION OF THE METAL CHELATES WITH THE OXYGEN IS NOT COMPLETELY EFFICIENT, RESULTING IN THE PRODUCTION OF OFF-FLAVORS. THE PROPOSAL ADDRESSES THIS CHEMISTRY WHICH MUST BE IMPROVED BEFORE THE SYSTEM CAN BE PRACTICAL. IT IS PROPOSED TO STUDY THE METAL CHELATE CHEMISTRY IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN AND BEVERAGE FLAVOR COMPONENTS.