SOLUBLE COMPLEXES OF COPPER AND ZINC IN WHISKEY DISTILLERY SPENT WASH

Abstract

The capacity of samples of malt whiskey distillery spent wash to complex added ionic copper was examined, and copper binding capacities of up to 3250 mg litre−1 found. A correlation between the copper binding capacity and the total hexose content of spent wash was demonstrated. Gel filtration studies indicated that the copper was probably bound to an organic fraction containing both carbohydrate and ninhydrin positive material, whereas zinc appeared to be complexed by a lower molecular weight fraction containing both hexose and phenolic moieties. 1982 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling