Rapid Method for Differentiation of Extracts of Wood Used in Balkan Cooperage

Abstract

The ageing process of alcoholic beverages in presence of wood is asignificant label of their quality, in which important changes in aroma, color,taste and astringency occur due to the interaction between compoundspresent in the wood and beverages. In Balkan countries, several woodspecies such as oak, cherry, black locust, and mulberry can be used in thatprocess.Cyclic voltammetry is simple, rapid and inexpensive method that could beused for measurement of antioxidant capacity. To our knowledge, cyclicvoltammetry has not been implemented in characterization of woodextracts before. Therefore, the aim of our work was to characterize the 60%ethanolic extracts of different wood species commonly used in Balkancooperage (reproducing the condition of ageing process) by cyclicvoltammetry and to investigate differences among wood species.Our results showed that cyclic voltammetry can distinguish investigatedwood species, which points to the phenolic profile unique for the woodspecie. The same class of wood extract shows similar behavior (based onthe peaks position) indicating the presence of the same phenoliccompounds. Also, differences based on the current areas are stronglycorrelated with the geographical origin of the wood. Present study allowsapplication of the rapid, reagentless and sensitive method for themonitoring of the phenolic profiles of the wood, and determination ofgeographical and botanical origin. Additionally, proposed approach, offersfast and reliable determination of the quality of the used wood barrel, as animportant and beneficial fact for the producers of alcoholic beverages.