Determination of the moisture and nitrogen contents of barley and malt by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)

Submitted on behalf of the Analysis Committee of the European Brewery Convention

Abstract

The determination of the moisture and nitrogen contents of barley and malt by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been tested by the Analysis Committee of the European Brewery Convention. In the collaborative trial ffour samples of barley and malt were analyzed by 17 laboraties. Repeatability (r₉₅) and reproducibility (R₉₅) values of 0.3 and 1.5% m/m respectively were obtained for barley moisture over the range 12.7 to 15.8% m/m. For malt moisture these values were 0.2 and 1.3% m/m over the range 4.0 to 4.3% m/m, for barley nitrogen 0.1 and 0.3% m/m on dry matter over the range 1.57 to 2.14% m/m, and for malt nitrogen 0.1 and 0.2% m/m on dry matter over the range 1.58 to 1.82% m/m, respectively.