New refractive index method for measurement of alcoholic strength of small volume samples

A study of the correlation between the refractive index (RI) method adopted by the European Community (EC) and a reference pycnometric method for the measurement of alcoholic strength was undertaken. A new RI method with greater accuracy was also developed. Alcoholic strength measured by both RI methods presented a relatively constant negative bias compared with results by the pycnometric method. Differences found between the RI methods and the pycnometric method were 0.6-0.9% (v/v) when RI was measured by the EC method and 0.4-0.5% (v/v) when the new RI method developed in our laboratory was used. Statistical analysis of the results showed that differences between the 2 RI methods and the reference pycnometric method were statistically significant at the 95% confidence level. Correction factors are proposed for the accurate use of measurements of alcoholic strength obtained for small volume samples.