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Chemical Analysis after Distillation -
- This method is the same as for alcohol determination by distillation followed by hydrometry, except that less wine is required to be distilled and the the alcohol concentration of the distillate is determined by chemical means rather than hydrometry.
- Because the alcoholic distillate can contain volatile acids and sulphur dioxide which can depress the hydrometer value, resulting in false high alcohol determinations, the chemical analysis more exclusively targets the alcohol contained in the distilate.
- This results in a truer more accurate measurement when performed by an experienced analyst.
- The chemical method utilises potassium dichromate to react and convert the alcohol present in the distillate to acetic acid, which is then titrated, under appropriate conditions, to an end point and the alcohol concentration calculated.