Reduction of ethyl carbamate in Huangjiu by adsorption with activated carbon

• 1、Lab of Brewing Microbiology and Applied Enzymology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122,China

Abstract：Based on the removal efficiency of ethyl carbamate (EC), seven different adsorption materials commonly used in the alcoholic beverage industry were tasted to reduce EC content in traditional Huangjiu with high EC concentration, and the adsorbent with best adsorption efficiency was further investigated. The results showed that activated carbon can adsorbed EC in Huangjiu effectively, and a better reduction efficiency of EC can be obtained using dynamic column adsorption with it. Among different activated carbons, the coconut shell granular activated carbon and woodchip activated carbon provided relatively more EC reduction. After adsorption treatments of Huangjiu samples with 10 bed volume (BV) by them, EC of more than 85% were removed. The adsorption efficiency of EC can be modulated by controlling the flow velocity and acid modification of the activated carbon. Even for the Huangjiu with high concentration of EC (more than 600 ppb), 60% EC can be removed after adsorption by activated carbon. However, with the increase of treatment volume, the adsorption efficiency of EC would be decreased. The adsorption treatment by activated carbon made a little difference in primary parameters of Huangjiu, but obviously changed the contents of flavor substances. This method can be used as a contingency measure of reducing high levels of EC in Huangjiu.

Keywords： activated carbon adsorption Huangjiu ethyl carbamate