Sulfite in Wine Test Kits
Manufacturer: Chemetrics, Inc.
Sulfites have been used for centuries to sanitize and preserve foods. They are used worldwide in the wine industry as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. However, sulfites have been identified as causative agents in certain allergic reactions suffered by asthmatics. As a result, the FDA and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms have mandated that sulfites in foods and beverages, at levels of 10 ppm or higher, be identified on the label. CHEMetrics' sulfite test kits are based on the Ripper method, which the wine industry has used for years as a standard for rapid sulfite analysis. Sulfite is titrated with an iodide-iodate solution, using a starch end point indicator. Phosphoric acid is used to adjust the pH of the sample. Results are quantified using direct-reading titration cells. The test determines free sulfite as ppm (mg/L) SO2. CHEMetrics' tests can be used with red and white wines. These tests are affected by the same interferences as The Ripper Method; these include Botrytis, tannin pigments, and ascorbic acid.