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Removal of urea from alcoholic beverages with an acid urease
1Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Journal of Applied Toxicology : JAT
|February 1, 1988
Abstract:
Urethan, a cancer causing chemical, was reported to contaminate some alcoholic beverages. Since urethan is formed by heating urea with ethyl-alcohol, removal of urea is necessary to prevent urethan formation in alcoholic beverages. Acid urease, whose optimal pH lies around 4, lowered urea concentrations in Japanese sake. This finding indicates a protective effect of acid urease on urethan's potential hazards in alcohol.