Decarbonation of Soda Samples using Rotor-Stator Based Methodology

When conducting research for beverage development or during final product manufacture, quality analysis is a vital step in the process. When analyzing sugar-additives like aspartame, or quantification of other characteristic ingredients, like caffeine, decarbonation is a required step during sample preparation to ensure quality of downstream results (Maes, 2012). For downstream analysis, carbonation, in the form of dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2), decreases the quality of the sample and is an unwanted sample characteristic for ingredient analysis when utilizing methodologies like liquid chromatography or mass spectrometry-based analysis. 

Examples of methods used for decarbonation include leaving the sample exposed to air to become flat over many hours or agitating the sample via ultrasonication. To speed up the decarbonation process, mechanical disruption offers a reliable method that allows for quick and efficient removal of dissolved CO2. The Omni THq Homogenizer and variety of rotor-stator probes, from disposable Omni Tips™ to stainless-steel, provide an automation-compatible solution for decarbonation of soda for customers in the beverage industry. 

Herein, we evaluate the Omni THq Homogenizer and its ability to reduce pressure and CO2 volume in commercially available cola, diet cola, and lemon-lime soda samples.

Figure 1: CO2 Volume in Cola post-processing with Omni Tip plastic probe. After 10, 15, and 20 minutes of processing, percent dissolved CO2 loss was 42, 52, and 61 %, respectively, when compared to the negative control (fresh soda).