BEVERAGE DIAGNOSTIC AND PRESERVATION DEVICES AND METHODS
Beverage diagnostic and preservation devices and methods are described. In several exemplary embodiments, one or more of the devices are used to detect the freshness of, and/or preserve, wine in a container. The devices can receive inputs from one or more sensors when determining the freshness of wine in a container.
1 . A method for determining freshness of wine, the method comprising:
measuring a lower explosive limit of gas located within a headspace of a container; and
determining freshness of wine in the container based on the lower explosive limit.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the freshness of the wine is deemed fresh if the lower explosive limit of gas located in the headspace of the container is below about 5%, 10%, or 15%.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the freshness of the wine is deemed not fresh if the lower explosive limit of gas located in the headspace of the container is above about 5%, 10%, or 15%.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lower explosive limit is measured with a photoionization detector, semiconductor, or metal oxide sensor.
5 . A method for determining freshness of wine, the method comprising:
measuring a concentration of SO 2 in liquid wine in a container; and
determining the freshness of the wine based on the concentration of SO 2 .
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the freshness of the wine is deemed fresh if the concentration of SO 2 in the liquid is greater than about 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 ppm.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the freshness of the wine is deemed not fresh if the concentration of SO 2 in the liquid is less than about 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 ppm.
8 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
measuring a lower explosive limit of gas located within a headspace of the container; and
determining freshness of wine in the container based on the lower explosive limit.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the freshness of the wine is deemed fresh if the concentration of SO 2 in the liquid is greater than about 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 ppm and if the lower explosive limit of gas located in the headspace of the container is below about 5%, 10%, or 15%.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the freshness of the wine is deemed not fresh if the concentration of SO 2 in the liquid is less than about 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 ppm and if the lower explosive limit of gas located in the headspace of the container is above about 5%, 10%, or 15%.
11 . A device according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.
12 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a concentration of SO 2 in a liquid, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting a concentration of SO 2 of about 1-35, 1-30, 1-25, 2-30, or 3-30 ppm.
13 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a concentration of SO 2 in a gas, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting a concentration of SO 2 of about 1-15, 1-10, 2-10, 3-10 ppm.
14 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first sensor for detecting a concentration of SO 2 in a liquid, wherein the first sensor is capable of detecting a concentration of SO 2 of about 1-35, 1-30, 1-25, 2-30, or 3-30 ppm; and
a second sensor for detecting a concentration of SO 2 in a gas, wherein the second sensor is capable of detecting a concentration of SO 2 of about 1-15, 1-10, 2-10, 3-10 ppm.
15 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a lower explosive limit of a gas, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting a lower explosive limit of about 0-30%, 0-25%, or 5-15%.
16 . The device of claim 15 , wherein the sensor is a photoionization detector, semiconductor, or metal oxide sensor.
17 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for detecting ethanol.
18 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first sensor for detecting a lower explosive limit of a gas, wherein the sensor is capable of detecting a lower explosive limit of about 0-30%, 0-25%, or 5-15%; and
a second sensor for detecting a concentration of SO 2 in a liquid, wherein the second sensor is capable of detecting a concentration of SO 2 of about 1-35, 1-30, 1-25, 2-30, or 3-30 ppm.
19 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for detecting absorbance, wherein the sensor is capable of measuring absorbance at about 400-600, 450-550, 500-550, or 520 nm.
20 . The device of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first sensor for detecting ethanol; and
a second sensor for detecting a concentration of SO 2 in a liquid, wherein the second sensor is capable of detecting a concentration of SO 2 of about 1-35, 1-30, 1-25, 2-30, or 3-30 ppm.