Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis

In recent years, non-alcoholic beers have been gaining popularity. Among the various components that affect the flavor and sensory characteristics of beers, free fatty acids (FFAs) are minor components. However, due to their involvement in beer quality, fast and simple methods for analyzing FFAs in...

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Main Authors: Christiana Mantzourani, Maroula G. Kokotou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Separations
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/5/114
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author Christiana Mantzourani
Maroula G. Kokotou
author_facet Christiana Mantzourani
Maroula G. Kokotou
author_sort Christiana Mantzourani
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, non-alcoholic beers have been gaining popularity. Among the various components that affect the flavor and sensory characteristics of beers, free fatty acids (FFAs) are minor components. However, due to their involvement in beer quality, fast and simple methods for analyzing FFAs in beers are of importance. In this work, we present a liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method for the rapid determination of FFAs in beers, avoiding a tedious sample preparation and derivatization and allowing the simultaneous study of a large set of FAs, including medium-chain, long-chain, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FAs. The method was applied in the analysis of twelve non-alcoholic and nine alcoholic beer samples from the local market, permitting the comparison of their FFA profiling. Among the 37 FAs studied, 29 were quantified, and palmitic, stearic, oleic and myristic acids were identified as the predominant FAs in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers. The majority of the predominant long-chain FAs, including palmitic, stearic and myristic acids, were found in decreased amounts in non-alcoholic beers, compared to the alcoholic ones, with the marked exception of oleic acid, which was increased in non-alcoholic beers. Among the medium-chain FAs, octanoic acid was found at lower concentrations in non-alcoholic beers, comparing to regular beers, while lauric acid was slightly increased. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested the correlation of FFAs with the type of beer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer).
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spelling doaj-art-4bc56820e2f74f32a80f767215b7b7e52025-08-20T01:56:45ZengMDPI AGSeparations2297-87392025-05-0112511410.3390/separations12050114Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry AnalysisChristiana Mantzourani0Maroula G. Kokotou1Laboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, GreeceLaboratory of Chemistry, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, GreeceIn recent years, non-alcoholic beers have been gaining popularity. Among the various components that affect the flavor and sensory characteristics of beers, free fatty acids (FFAs) are minor components. However, due to their involvement in beer quality, fast and simple methods for analyzing FFAs in beers are of importance. In this work, we present a liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) method for the rapid determination of FFAs in beers, avoiding a tedious sample preparation and derivatization and allowing the simultaneous study of a large set of FAs, including medium-chain, long-chain, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FAs. The method was applied in the analysis of twelve non-alcoholic and nine alcoholic beer samples from the local market, permitting the comparison of their FFA profiling. Among the 37 FAs studied, 29 were quantified, and palmitic, stearic, oleic and myristic acids were identified as the predominant FAs in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beers. The majority of the predominant long-chain FAs, including palmitic, stearic and myristic acids, were found in decreased amounts in non-alcoholic beers, compared to the alcoholic ones, with the marked exception of oleic acid, which was increased in non-alcoholic beers. Among the medium-chain FAs, octanoic acid was found at lower concentrations in non-alcoholic beers, comparing to regular beers, while lauric acid was slightly increased. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested the correlation of FFAs with the type of beer (alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer).https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/5/114beerfree fatty acidshigh-resolution mass spectrometryLC-HRMSnon-alcoholic beer
spellingShingle Christiana Mantzourani
Maroula G. Kokotou
Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis
Separations
beer
free fatty acids
high-resolution mass spectrometry
LC-HRMS
non-alcoholic beer
title Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis
title_full Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis
title_fullStr Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis
title_short Free Fatty Acid Determination in Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beers via Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Analysis
title_sort free fatty acid determination in alcoholic and non alcoholic beers via liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry analysis
topic beer
free fatty acids
high-resolution mass spectrometry
LC-HRMS
non-alcoholic beer
url https://www.mdpi.com/2297-8739/12/5/114
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AT maroulagkokotou freefattyaciddeterminationinalcoholicandnonalcoholicbeersvialiquidchromatographyhighresolutionmassspectrometryanalysis