Development of a new paper-based voltage step electrocoagulation technique and application to wine classification

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Traditional wine analysis methods can be complex and time-consuming.
• Developing rapid, cost-effective analytical techniques for wine quality assessment is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel voltage step electrocoagulation (VSEC) technique for red wine analysis.
• To assess the capability of VSEC for wine classification, adulteration detection, and antioxidant property estimation.

Main Methods:

• A VSEC system was designed using a cathode array system (CAS) and an aluminum anode on filter paper soaked with wine.
• Voltage steps were applied, causing anode corrosion and sludge formation, leading to color changes along the paper.
• Image processing and DPPH assay were used for analysis and correlation.

Main Results:

• The VSEC technique produced distinct color gradients on the filter paper, observable visually or via image processing.
• The method successfully classified 15 red wine samples into different groups and detected dilutions and adulterations.
• A strong correlation (R² = 0.76) was observed between VSEC results and antioxidant capacity (IC50 values from DPPH assay).

Conclusions:

• VSEC is a promising, simple, and rapid technique for red wine analysis, classification, and quality assessment.
• The technique offers potential for approximating wine antioxidant properties.
• This method provides a visual and quantifiable approach to wine analysis on paper.