Sorption equilibria of ethanol on cork.

We report here for the first time a thermodynamic study of gaseous ethanol sorption on raw cork powder and plate. Our study aims at a better understanding of the reactivity of this material when used as a stopper under enological conditions, thus in close contact with a hydroethanolic solution, wine. Sorption−desorption isotherms were accurately measured by thermogravimetry at 298 K in a large range of relative pressures.

Dry vs soaked wood: modulating the volatile extractible fraction of oak wood by heat treatments.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the water content of wood on the concentrations of volatile compounds which can be extracted after heat treatments. Head Space-Solid Phase Micro Extraction Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME GC-MS) has been used to compare the concentrations of six aroma compounds (vanillin, furfural, eugenol, guaïacol and cis- and trans-whisky lactones) in hydroalcoholic extracts of heated oak wood samples either previously soaked in hot water or not. Except for eugenol, concentrations of extracted aromas appeared to be lower in soaked woods than in dry woods for temperatures up to 200 °C.

Diffusion of oxygen in cork.

This work reports measurements of effective oxygen diffusion coefficient in raw cork. Kinetics of oxygen transfer through cork is studied at 298 K thanks to a homemade manometric device composed of two gas compartments separated by a cork wafer sample. The first compartment contains oxygen, whereas the second one is kept under dynamic vacuum.

Interaction Mechanisms between guaiacols and lignin: the conjugated double bond makes the difference.

Lignin is considered to be responsible for a selective sorption of phenolic compounds on wood. In order to investigate the mechanisms involved, two similar guaiacol compounds--only differing by the nature of the para side chain--were adsorbed on oak wood extracted lignin. Vapor sorption-desorption isotherms indicated that about 3.

Surface properties of Saccharomyces cerevisiae lees during sparkling wine ageing and their effect on flocculation.

Cell surface properties were determined for the first time for lees of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and they proved to be significantly dependent on the time of sparkling wine ageing on lees. Cell surface hydrophobicity decreased from approximately 44% to 11% of affinity to hexadecane. Electron acceptor capacity (calculated as % affinity to ethyl acetate-% affinity to decane) increased from approximately -27% to 10 % and zeta potential from approximately -4 to 6mV.