Determination of nitrate in beer by ion chromatography

A method, relying on ion chromatography, for the determination of nitrate in beer, has been collaboratively tested by members of the European Brewery Convention (EBC) and the Brewery Convention of Japan (BCOJ), Precision values were judged to be acceptable, Repeatability (r(95)) and reproducibility (R(95)) values were 1.5, 0.96, 5.1, and 9.3, 10.4, 13.5 respectively for corresponding mean levels of 6.5, 26.2 and 52.8 mg/litre, However, r(95) and R(95) values of 1.5 and 2.3 respectively were obtained for an aqueous solution of nitrate ions at a mean level of 20.7 mg/litre. The determination of nitrate is recommended for use and inclusion in Analytica-EBC, as an additional analyte in the International Method which relies on ion chromatography for estimating chloride, sulphate and phosphate.