EFEITO DO NITROGÊNIO E DO OXIGÊNIO NA ELABORAÇÃO DE FERMENTADOS DE MAÇÃ

Abstract

In yeast growth during the alcoholic fermentation, the nitrogen compounds and the oxygen content are the main limiting elements. Nitrogen and oxygen absence can lead to sluggish or stuck fermentations. In order to prevent these technological problems, in the Brazilian apple wine processing the nitrogen compounds addition is common practice, without knowing its content in the apple must. In this operation, occurs must agitation with two purposes, homogenization and oxygen dissolution. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen and oxygen in the elaboration of apple wine in Brazilian processing conditions. The nitrogen content and dissolved oxygen in apple must of different varieties, harvests and regions were analyzed. The effect of the unit operations and enzymatic browning inhibitors in the oxygen dissolution in apple must was evaluated. The total nitrogen content was determined by method of Kjedahl and oxygen by dissolved oxygen meter. The total nitrogen content of 51 apple must samples was analyzed, and 98 % had values above 75 mg/L, which are enough for a complete fermentation. The maximum yeast population, as well as the fermentation rate, is proportional to nitrogen content in apple musts. In the apple must processing, the highest dissolution occurs during the pressing, around of 7.3 ± 0.5 mgO2/L. But the phenolic oxidation reaction is responsible for oxygen consumption (above 90 %). The unit operations of depectinization, racking and filtration increase the oxygen content in the apple must, around of 3.0 ± 0.8 mgO2/L. The addition of sulphur dioxide, in the milled apple, inhibits the oxidation and apple must keep higher oxygen content after filtration. The maceration possibility a smaller reduction (57 %, on average) in dissolved oxygen uptake in the must by the enzymatic browning reaction due to the previous oxidation of phenolic substrate. The final oxygen content of the normal apple must processing, without addition of sulphur dioxide or maceration, was 3.0 mg/L, enough for the yeast development. The forced oxygen addition in apple must can be harmful for the fermentative activity of the yeast, possibly due to the nutrients oxidation. Therefore, nitrogen compounds and oxygen additions before the fermentation are not necessary in used conditions.