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Total Acidity Testing - different batch styles different results?

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AW1488

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Posted 12 December 2022 - 10:54 PM

Hello!  I work for a beverage company that utilizes co-packers for our production.  We have recently brought on a new facility.  They produce single strength carbonated batches.  Our other facilities produce batches utilizing a syrup throw.  We have noticed that the single strength facility seems to yield higher total acidity results then all our other facilities.  We thought that they may not be degassing the sample enough so we have tried different methods with them there and still coming out high.  What else could be effecting their testing results?  Water quality, equipment (automatic titrator)?  Or is this something that should be expected from a single strength verse syrup throw?  Any help appreciated!

 

PS we are sending samples from one co-packer to another to test on each others equipment and see what happens.



pHruit

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Posted 13 December 2022 - 12:37 PM

Some initial ideas to check:

 

Do the products taste and/or look noticeably different?

Any other analytical discrepancies that might point to a dilution or formulation issue, e.g. Brix, pH?

 

Are they measuring using the same method and quoting the results in the same way. For example

  • Do the titrations have the same end point pH?
  • Are the results both quoted using the same acid - e.g. both report titratable acid as anhydrous citric, rather than one working as anhydrous and one as citric monohydrate, or different acids all together?
  • Are they both using the same units, e.g. g/100g, %w/w etc, rather than one using %w/w and one %v/v?

Are both sites definitely following the same base recipe (i.e. is syrup plus water genuinely identical to the formulation used for single-strength)? For example even if the quantities are the same, is the syrup formulation based on adding a quantity of acid as citric monohydrate, but the single strength site is using the same quantity of citric anhydrous?

 

The comparison testing by sending samples between sites is a good idea. You could also check their calibration frequencies and protocols (over the years I've seen some weird results caused by people e.g. muddling or mixing pH calibration buffers...), and possibly also send samples of both to an accredited third party lab if you need an independent set of results.



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AW1488

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Posted 15 December 2022 - 04:40 PM

Some initial ideas to check:

 

Do the products taste and/or look noticeably different?

Any other analytical discrepancies that might point to a dilution or formulation issue, e.g. Brix, pH?

 

Are they measuring using the same method and quoting the results in the same way. For example

  • Do the titrations have the same end point pH?
  • Are the results both quoted using the same acid - e.g. both report titratable acid as anhydrous citric, rather than one working as anhydrous and one as citric monohydrate, or different acids all together?
  • Are they both using the same units, e.g. g/100g, %w/w etc, rather than one using %w/w and one %v/v?

Are both sites definitely following the same base recipe (i.e. is syrup plus water genuinely identical to the formulation used for single-strength)? For example even if the quantities are the same, is the syrup formulation based on adding a quantity of acid as citric monohydrate, but the single strength site is using the same quantity of citric anhydrous?

 

The comparison testing by sending samples between sites is a good idea. You could also check their calibration frequencies and protocols (over the years I've seen some weird results caused by people e.g. muddling or mixing pH calibration buffers...), and possibly also send samples of both to an accredited third party lab if you need an independent set of results.

Thank you for the suggestions.  I will dive into these and see what we can find out!  Also with your 1st two questions.  The products do not look or taste different and the other analytical, brix and pH, are in line with the product specifications and the results at the other facilities.  It is only TA that is coming out high at the facility I oversee.


Edited by AW1488, 15 December 2022 - 04:51 PM.


lorlandini

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Posted 15 December 2022 - 07:10 PM

Hi,

 

Some areas to look at for your issue.

 

Making a single strength versus a throw should not affect the TA to a high degree.   Are they both using 0.1N NaOH for the titration? 

 

I would develop a TA testing protocol and have all of your co packers follow that same protocol

 

Have the single strength co packer just make the syrup portion like your other co packers and have them do a TA of the syrup portion before they blend it with all of the water to make it a single strength.  Have your co packers that use a throw do the same and compare the TA's of the syrup.

 

Look at the approved formulas both co packers are using?   Are they exactly the same?  The only difference should be the amount of water used in the single strength formula.

 

Are all of your co packers using treated water or RO water?

 

What is the numerical difference of the TA between single strength and throw?

 

Let us know the outcome.

 

Leo



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AW1488

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Posted 03 January 2023 - 05:31 PM

Hi Leo!

 

Thanks for the reply.  To answer some of your questions.  All facilities are using RO Water.  One difference at the facility I oversee is that they are actually able to carbonate the water throughout the batching process.  So essentially before it even hits the filler the entire batch is already carbed.  For numerical difference we are seeing about a tenth of a point higher then our specs.  So for our Lime product our spec range is 0.145-0.165.  My facility has been averaging around 0.175 for TA.  

 

We have been pushing that maybe my facility isn't degassing their samples enough but I have watched them complete the testing and they can run the same sample multiple times and get the same results no matter how long it sits and degasses.  

 

We did send samples from my facility to another to be tested on their equipment.  Hopefully we will be able to get those results this week and see what happens.

 

Thanks!





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