Monitoring of total potassium in winemaking processes using a potentiometric analytical microsystem

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Food Science

Background:

• Agri-food sector faces challenges in innovation, traceability, food security, and quality control.
• Wine production trends emphasize natural wines with minimal chemical intervention.
• Accurate monitoring of key elements like potassium is crucial for wine quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a low-cost, miniaturized, and automated microanalyzer for monitoring total potassium in winemaking.
• To support the production of natural wines by simplifying quality control processes.
• To provide an easy-to-use system that requires no sample pretreatment.

Main Methods:

• Monolithic integration of microfluidics and a potentiometric detection system.
• Development of a highly automated microsystem for potassium analysis.
• Validation of analytical performance including linear range, detection limit, and reproducibility.

Main Results:

• Linear range of 250–4000 mg L⁻¹ K⁺, suitable for must and wine samples.
• Detection limit of 75 ± 12 mg L⁻¹ K⁺ with adequate reproducibility and repeatability.
• High sample throughput (20 h⁻¹) with minimal waste (<4 mL/analysis) and a system lifetime of at least 4 months.

Conclusions:

• The developed microanalyzer is a viable tool for total potassium monitoring in winemaking.
• The system facilitates quality control and supports the trend towards natural wine production.
• Outstanding results were achieved in analyzing various wine and grape juice samples.