Separation and quantification of beer carbohydrates by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

An HPLC method with an evaporative light scattering detector was optimized and validated for quantification of carbohydrates in beer. The chromatographic separation was achieved using a Spherisorb NH2, 5 μm chromatographic column and gradient elution with acetonitrile/water. The determinations were performed in the linear range of 0.05–5.0 g/L for fructose, 0.05–5.0 g/L for glucose, 0.05–15.0 g/L for maltose, 0.05–10.0 g/L for maltotriose, and 0.05–5.0 g/L for maltotetraose. The detection limits were 0.005 g/L for fructose, 0.008 g/L for glucose, and 0.01 g/L for maltose, maltotriose, and maltotetraose. The reliability of the method in terms of precision and accuracy was evaluated in three beer matrices, low alcohol beer, 6% alcohol beer, and beer made with part of adjuncts (4.5% alcohol). Relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranged between 1.59 and 5.95% (n = 10), and recoveries ranged between 94 and 98.4%.