DETERMINATION OF THE MOISTURE AND NITROGEN CONTENTS OF BARLEY AND MALT BY NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS)

The determination of the moisture and nitrogen contents of barley and malt by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been tested by the Analy sis Committee of the European Brewery Convention. In the collaborative trial four samples of barley and malt were analysed by 17 laboratorie s. Repeatability (r(95)) and reproducibility (R(95)) values of 0.3 and 1.5 % m/m respectively were obtained for barley moisture over the ran ge 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.