Lors de l’élevage des vins avec le bois de chêne, plusieurs molécules d’intérêts organoleptiques comme les ellagitanins (vescalagine, castalagine, roburines A, B, C, D, E et grandinine), sont extraites. Leurs concentrations dans le bois et le vin sont très variables et leurs cinétiques d’extraction au cours de l’élevage ainsi que leurs propriétés organoleptiques dans les vins sont mal connues. Dans le but de classifier chaque douelle pour fabriquer des barriques avec des indices en polyphénols (IP) totaux significativement différents, un système proche infrarouge (NIRS), Oakscan®, a été mis en place par la tonnellerie Radoux. Notre objectif était d’étudier l’influence de ce mode de classifications des bois au niveau de la composition moléculaire et organoleptique des vins. Dans un premier temps, la classification NIRS des bois de chêne a été confirmée par quantification des concentrations en ellagitanins totaux et moléculaire par HPLC-UV-MS. Une forte variabilité des concentrations en ellagitanins des bois est observée entre 5,95 et 32,91 mg d’équivalent acide ellagique/g de bois. De plus, la classification NIRS des bois se corrèle avec les analyses chimiques (p < 0,02%). Cette nouvelle méthode permet donc de fabriquer des barriques avec un IP moyen différent (IP : 11 à 70). Dans un second temps, des vins de différentes origines et cépages sont élevés dans les barriques classifiées. La cinétique des teneurs en ellagitanins montre l’influence de la classification des bois de chêne (p < 5%). En effet, dès les premiers mois d’élevage, une augmentation en ellagitanins jusqu’à un maximum est obtenue. Plus les bois sont riches, plus le maximum de concentration en ellagitanins des vins est élevé et décalé dans le temps. Puis, une lente diminution des concentrations en ellagitanins est observée. Les influences du grain et de la chauffe des bois ont également été analysées. La solubilisation dans les vins des composés aromatiques des bois de chêne classifiés par Oakscan® montre dans plusieurs cas que les teneurs en aldéhydes furaniques et en syringol impliqués dans les perceptions du fumé/grillé sont corrélées avec la classification NIRS et également avec l’IP des bois. Ainsi, un vin élevé au contact de bois riches en polyphénols possède des concentrations en arômes fumé/grillé plus importantes. Néanmoins, l’intensité de la chauffe a un rôle prépondérant sur les concentrations de ces arômes boisés. Parallèlement, les propriétés organoleptiques des vins élevés avec du bois de chêne à 6, 12, 18 ou 24 mois et testées par un jury entrainé, montrent des différences significatives corrélées à l’IP des barriques. Les vins élevés au contact des IP les plus importants sont significativement décrits comme plus boisés, fumés/grillés et épicé au nez. En bouche, l’amertume et l’astringence sont significativement plus importantes pour les vins élevés dans les barriques possédant les plus fortes concentrations en ellagitanins. A contrario, le fruité des vins, au nez et en bouche, est généralement noté comme moins important pour les vins élevés avec des barriques à IP le plus haut.L’influence de la classification des bois, en fonction de leurs grains et de leurs IP, sur la consommation en oxygène des vins rouges a été suivie grâce à une méthode innovante et non invasive. Les résultats montrent que 96% de l’oxygène dans le vin à T0 est consommé huit jours après entonnage. Des différences significatives (p < 0,01%), entre les vitesses de consommation de l’oxygène et l’IP ou le grain des barriques, sont observées. La vitesse de consommation d’oxygène augmente en corrélation de l’IP des barriques ou de la taille du grain. Ces résultats permettent d’envisager l’utilisation de méthodes de sélection non empiriques et fiables des bois de chêne en fonction de leurs grains ou de leurs concentrations en ellagitanins ce qui permet de fabriquer des barriques classifiées à l’aide de nos résultats conférant, au vin, des propriétés organoleptiques maîtrisées. / During the wine aging with oak wood, some compounds with interesting organoleptic properties such as ellagitannins (i.e., vescalagin, castalagin, roburins A, B, C, D, E and grandinin) are extracted. The ellagitannins concentrations in oak wood and wine are highly variable and their extractions kinetic during the aging as well as their organoleptic impacts on wines are poorly known and still unclear. In order to classify each stave according to their polyphenolics index (IP) before making the barrels, an infrared system (NIRS), Oakscan®, was develop by the tonnellerie Radoux. Our aim was to study the influence of this wood classification on the wines molecular composition and organoleptic properties.In the first place, the NIRS oak staves classification has been confirmed by the determination of the total ellagitannins concentration as well as the specific levels of each ellagitannins molecule by HPLC-UV-MS. A high variability of the ellagitannins level in wood between 5.95 ± 0.30 and 32.91 ± 0.98 mg ellagic acid equivalent/g of dry wood was observed. Furthermore, the wood infrared classification is correlated with chemical analyzes (p < 0.02%) and allow the production of barrels with different IP (IP: 11, 12, 16, 21, 26, 30, 35, 36, 39, 40, 41, 50, 51, 53, 62, 67 et 70).In a second place, some wines were aged in the classified barrels. The ellagitannins levels show the oak wood classification influences (p < 5%). Indeed, the first months of aging, the ellagitannins concentration increased until a maximum was obtain . Indeed, this maximum concentration in wine aged in barrel manufactured with the wood richer in ellagitannins was higher and latter (2.30 ± 0.05 after 4 months and 11.56 ± 0.31 mg ellagic acid equivalent/L of wine after 12 months respectively for the IP 21 and IP 70 barrels). After this maximum, a slow decrease of the ellagitannins level was observed. The influences of grain and toasting were also analyzed. The aromatics compounds solubilization of classified oak wood by Oakscan® show that the furanic aldehydes levels (furfural, alcool furfurylique et 5-méthylfurfural) and the syringol involved in the smocked/toasted aromas were correlated with the NIRS classification and the wood IP. So, a wine aged in contact with wood richer in polyphenols compounds was describe as more smocked/toasted. Nevertheless, the toasting intensity (which formed these compounds by thermo-degradation of hemicelluloses and lignins) plays a major role on their concentrations. Moreover, organoleptic properties of the wines aged with oak wood (barrels, staves) at 6, 12, 18 or 24 month and tested by trained judges were significantly impacted by the IP barrels. In fact, wine with the highest ellagitannins level was significantly described with a higher woody, smoked/burned and spicy in nose. In mouth, the bitterness and the astringency were significantly higher in wine containing the highest ellagitannins level. Whereas, the wine fruity aroma, in nose and mouth, was generally descript as lower in wine aged with the barrel with the IP higher.The influences of wood classification, in relation with the grain and the IP, on the red wine oxygen consumption after being put into barrels were analyzed with a new no invasive method. The results show that 96% of the oxygen in wine at T0 was consumed after 8 days. Significant differences (p < 0.01%) between the oxygen consumption speed and the barrel IP or the grain were observed. The oxygen consumption speed increase with correlation of barrel IP or the size of grain. These results allows the utilization of method not empirical and reliable method to select oak wood regarding their grain or their ellagitannins concentration in order to be able to produce oak barrels classified by means of our results to give organoleptic properties controlled to the wine.

gamma-Lactones are found in a wide variety of food and beverage products, in particular grapes and wine. This thesis details the work completed on some gamma-lactones in wine: their synthetic preparation, development of quantification methodologies and sensory studies. Chapter 1 outlines the history of the Australian wine industry from the arrival of the first vines on the First Fleet in 1788 with Captain Arthur Philip. This chapter provides: an overview of Australia’s position in the world of grape and wine production; an analysis of the export arm of the industry; and a look at the different wine producing regions around the country. The latter part of the chapter focuses on the different volatile compounds found in wine. Part A: Chapter 2 provides an overview on the history of barrel manufacture and the use of oak wood in cooperage, with an emphasis on oak’s well known ability to impart desirable characteristics to wine through the extraction of volatile aroma compounds. This chapter provides a summary of these odorants with a particular emphasis on the oak lactones. Previous sensory studies and synthetic work are discussed. Of great importance to this work are the recent advancements in 1,2-dioxine chemistry, highlighted in this chapter. Chapter 3 details the synthetic work completed for the preparation of all four possible oak lactone stereoisomers. A suitably substituted racemic 1,2-dioxine featured as the common intermediate and enabled preparation of the gamma-lactone moiety upon reaction with a chiral malonate diester and separation of the diastereomers by column chromatography. A key step involved the decarboxylation of the ester cleaved gamma-lactone diastereomers, which could be directed to give either the cis- or trans-products. Standard chemical transformations were then utilised to produce the desired stereoisomers of oak lactone. Chapter 4 describes the results from the sensory studies that were completed on the synthetic oak lactone samples. Odour detection thresholds were measured in both a white and a red wine. The thresholds in the former medium were calculated to be 24 ug/L, 172 ug/L, 132 ug/L and 305 ug/L, while in the latter medium the thresholds were calculated to be 57 ug/L, 380 ug/L, 175 ug/L and 285 ug/L, for (4S,5S)-cis-, (4S,5R)-trans-, (4R,5R)-cis- and (4R,5S)-trans-oak lactone, respectively. Difference testings were completed on the pairs of enantiomers and also on mixtures of the nature-identical isomers: between the cis-enantiomers a significant difference was found at the 99% confidence level, while between the trans-enantiomers and also the mixtures of cis- and trans-isomers little difference was observed. Chapter 5 contains the experimental procedures for Part A. Part B: Chapter 6 discusses the sensory properties of some gamma- and delta-lactones, with the focus on a series of five-alkyl substituted gamma-lactones: gamma-octalactone, gamma-nonalactone, gamma-decalactone and gamma-dodecalactone. Topics covered in this chapter include chirality, biosynthetic pathways and quantification results in wine from previous studies for these gamma-lactones. Chapter 7 concerns the method development for the quantification of gamma-lactones in wine using a stable isotope dilution assay (SIDA). Deuterated analogues were prepared from commercially available racemic gamma-lactones for use as internal standards. Initially a head space solid-phase microextraction (HS SPME) method was developed using d5-standards; however, analysis of bottled wine samples revealed the presence of co-eluting compounds that contained several of the selected ions. Thus an alternative method was developed using d7-standards, with a specific focus on sample clean-up, via solid-phase extraction (SPE). Using this procedure, 44 white and 120 red wines were analysed for their gamma-lactone content. The lactones were found to be significantly more common in the red wines, with gamma-nonalactone the most abundant lactone in this series. Chapter 8 deals with the extension of the SIDA method, as developed in Chapter 7, for use with a chiral gas chromatography column. Optically pure standards were prepared, from either L- or D-glutamic acid, and used to determine the order of elution of the enantiomers. A method was developed for the quantification of the individual enantiomers of gamma-octalactone, gamma-nonalactone, gamma-decalactone and gamma-dodecalactone. The enantiomeric distribution of gamma-nonalactone was investigated in 34 red wines; the (R)-stereoisomer was found to be dominant with an average of 59%, although there were wines analysed that did contain the (S)-stereoisomer in greater amounts. Chapter 9 describes the results from the sensory studies that were completed on the individual enantiomers of the gamma-lactones. Odour detection thresholds were measured in a red wine. The thresholds were calculated to be 238 ug/L, 285 ug/L, 34 ug/L and 8 ug/L for the (R)-enantiomers, while the thresholds were calculated to be 135 ug/L, 91 ug/L, 47 ug/L and 39 ug/L for the (S)-enantiomers, of gamma-octalactone, gamma-nonalactone, gamma-decalactone and gamma-dodecalactone, respectively. Chapter 10 contains the experimental procedures for Part B. Chapter 11 contains the appendices, followed by the references in Chapter 12.

Il est généralement admis que la qualité des vins et des eaux de vie dépend de leur vieillissement au contact du bois de chêne. La sélection du bois de chêne et sa maturation constituent des étapes essentielles dans la fabrication de barriques. Compte tenu des nombreux facteurs impliqués dans le choix de la matière première et dans la phase de séchage naturel du bois de chêne, il est très complexe de déterminer l’impact de la durée de séchage et l’incidence des facteurs de sélection combinés. Nous avons pu mettre en œuvre un plan d’essai qui nous a permis d’étudier l’évolution de la composition chimique du bois de chêne pour quatre stades de séchage : bois frais, 12 mois, 18 mois et 24 mois. Pour ce plan d’essai, l’échantillonnage a été réalisé en prenant en compte trois facteurs de sélection d’intérêt en tonnellerie : l’âge du bois, le type de grain et la classe d’Indice Polyphénolique mesurée par Oakscan®. En plus de la partie extractible (~10%), trois polymères constituent la majeure partie (~90%) du bois de chêne : la cellulose, les hémicelluloses et les lignines. Ces composés sont susceptibles de subir des hydrolyses ou des réactions chimiques au cours des différents processus de tonnellerie et notamment lors de la chauffe, libérant ainsi des composés aromatiques ou certains précurseurs aromatiques ayant un véritable intérêt sensoriel pour le vin vieilli en fût ou en contact avec du bois de chêne. Aucune étude n’a, à ce jour, montré un lien entre les proportions de ces composés dans le bois de chêne et l’impact au niveau chimique et organoleptique dans des vins élevés au contact de bois de chêne. Nous avons pu montrer que leurs proportions évoluent de façon significative au cours du séchage du bois de chêne et nos résultats soulignent l’incidence des différents facteurs de sélection. Respectivement, les proportions en composés extractibles, lignines, hémicelluloses et cellulose apparaissent majoritaires aux stades bois frais, 12 mois, 18 mois et 24 mois de séchage. La mise en place d’un plan d’essai sur un vin de Merlot à partir d’un deuxième échantillonnage de bois de chêne, selon les mêmes modalités que le plan d’essai sur bois, nous a permis d’évaluer l’impact du temps de séchage du bois sur la composition chimique d’un vin élevé au contact de morceaux de bois de chêne. Les résultats ont montré entre autres une baisse de près de 8% de teneur en ellagitanins moléculaires du vin entre les modalités 12 et 24 mois de séchage mais aussi des impacts sur les concentrations en composés volatiles du vin : les aldéhydes furaniques sont corrélés positivement à des temps de séchage longs (18 et 24 mois), tandis que les aldéhydes phénoliques le sont avec un temps de maturation plus court (12 mois). Nos résultats soulignent aussi l’influence des facteurs de sélection sur la composition chimique du vin. Sur le même vin de Merlot, la réalisation d’analyses sensorielles a mis en évidence des différences significatives perçues par notre panel entre les modalités de séchage 12 et 24 mois, tandis que les modalités 18 et 24 mois n’ont pas été distinguées lors de tests triangulaires. Des profils sensoriels ont également été établis pour tenter d’associer les différences perçues à un ou plusieurs descripteurs. Pour cette épreuve, les résultats soulignent la difficulté pour notre panel de dégustateurs de s’accorder sur l’existence d’une différence globale et significative entre les modalités 12 et 24 mois. Cependant, ils contribuent à expliquer les différences mises en évidence lors des tests triangulaires pour certaines modalités de séchage pour les descripteurs grillé/fumé, amertume, astringence, rondeur en bouche et perception sucrée. / It is widely accepted that alcoholic beverages quality depends on their ageing in premium quality oak wood. Oak wood selection and maturation are essential steps in the course of barrel fabrication. Given the existence of many factors involved in the choice of raw material and in natural seasoning of oak wood, it is very difficult to determine the real impact of seasoning and selection factors on oak wood composition. A sampling was done to study the evolution of oak wood chemical composition during four seasoning steps: non matured, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months. For this sampling, three selection factors were taken into account: age, grain type and the Polyphenolic Index measured by Oakscan®. Besides extractables (~10%), three polymers constitute the main part of oak wood: cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignins. These compounds may undergo hydrolysis or chemical reactions during cooperage processes, especially during heat treatment, which release some aromatic compounds or aromatic precursors having a genuine sensorial interest on wine aged in barrel or in contact with oak products. To date, no studies revealed a link between the proportions of these compounds in oak wood and the chemical and sensorial impact in wines ageing with oak wood. Our study showed that the proportions of these compounds evolved significantly during oak wood seasoning and the results highlighted the impact of selection factors. Respectively, extractables, lignins, hemicelluloses and cellulose proportions were mostly for non-matured, 12 months, 18 months and 24 seasoning months. The development of a test plan with a Merlot wine from a second oak wood sampling, using similar modalities as the previous test plan allowed the evaluation of oak wood seasoning impact on the chemical composition of a wine ageing with oak wood pieces. Results showed a lowering of 8% in ellagitannins content of wine between 12 and 24 months modalities. An impact on volatile composition in wine has also been established: furanic aldehydes were positively correlated with a long maturation time (18 and 24 months), whereas phenolic aldehydes were positively correlated with a shorter seasoning time (12 months). Our results highlighted also the impact of selection factors on wine chemical composition. Sensorial analysis on this Merlot wine led to significant differences detected by the panel between 12 and 24 seasoning modalities, but not between 18 and 24 months modalities with triangular tests. Sensorial profiles were also established to attempt to associate the differences detected to one or more descriptors. For this test, results highlighted the difficulty for the panel to make a significant difference between 12 and 24 months modalities. However they contribute to explain the differences demonstrated with triangular tests for some seasoning modalities: toasted, bitterness, astringency, roundness and sweet perception.

Wooden objects have been widely used in the history of humanity and play an important role in our cultural heritage. The preservation of such objects is of great importance and can be a challenging task. This thesis investigates the static and time-dependent mechanical behaviour of archaeological oak wood from the Vasa warship. Characterisation of mechanical properties is necessary for the formulation of a numerical model to design an improved support structure. The ship was impregnated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for dimensional stabilisation. All elastic engineering constants of the Vasa oak have been identified and compared with those of recent oak by means of the static and dynamic testing. The experiments were done on samples with cubic geometry, which allowed obtaining all elastic constants from a single sample. The usage of cubic samples with orthotropic mechanical properties during compressive experiments was validated with finite-element simulations. The Young's moduli of the Vasa oak in all orthotropic directions were smaller than those for the recent oak. The shear moduli of Vasa oak was determined and verified with the resonant ultrasound spectroscopy. The time-dependent mechanical behaviour of the Vasa oak has been studied. Creep studies were performed in uniaxial compression on the cubic samples in all orthotropic directions. The samples loaded in the longitudinal direction were subjected to different stress levels. A stress level below 15% of the yield stress in the longitudinal direction did not result in non-linear creep with increasing creep rates within the time frame of the tests. The results of the studies in radial and tangential directions showed that creep was dominated by the effect of annual fluctuations in relative humidity and temperature. The weight changes based on annual fluctuations of relative humidity were measured for Vasa oak and recent oak. The Vasa oak showed higher variations due to an increased hygroscopicity which is the result of the impregnation with PEG. In conceiving a full-scale finite-element model of Vasa ship, not only the stress-strain relations of the material but also those of the structural joints are needed. Since the in-situ measurement of joints is not an option, a replica of a section of the ship hull was built and tested mechanically. The load-induced displacements were measured using 3D laser scanning which proved to have advantages to conventional point displacement measurements. The mechanical characteristics of the Vasa oak and joint information presented in this work can be used as input for a finite-element model of the Vasa ship for simulation of static and time-dependent behaviour on a larger scale. / Stötta Vasa

Au cours des dernières décennies, on observe dans les stocks d’eaux-de-vie une minimisation des défauts mais également une raréfaction des eaux-de-vie d’exception. Le vieillissement sous bois est une étape discriminante quant à la qualité finale du produit. L’étude a pour but de mettre en relation les différentes échelles de description disponibles tant d’un point de vue expérimental que numérique pour ensuite disposer d’une boîte à outils, qualifiant un chai, qui s’enrichira au cours du temps. La clé d’entrée est le climat dans le chai. Une analyse des caractéristiques physiques du bois utilisé et de sa modification lors de la fabrication des barriques permet de mieux appréhender les échanges d’oxygène à travers les différentes zones de la barrique pendant la phase de vieillissement. Un laboratoire est mis en place afin de suivre les conditions climatiques et les propriétés thermo physiques et chimiques des barriques. Les acquis expérimentaux permettront alors de valider les outils de simulations qui seront développés en parallèle. Les outils de simulations, en particulier à l’échelle du chai, seront ensuite confrontés aux données expérimentales issues de l’instrumentation d’un chai réel. La pertinence des effets liés au comportement climatique à l’intérieur des chais sur la qualité de l’eau de vie sera évaluée grâce à l’expertise du comité de dégustation. / Because of the various steps of the process, cognacs reveal highly distinctive organoleptic properties. Nevertheless, over the past decades, the tasting committee has noticed a slight trend towards standardisation of eaux-de-vie. The reasons for this evolution are most certainly multifactorial. The Maison Hennessy wants to understand the transformations occurring during the process of elaboration of Cognac, and particularly during the aging process which is a critical stage regarding the final quality of the product. In particular, the development of construction techniques and the size of the cellars is likely to influence the quality of the “eaux-de-vie”. In this study we built a toolbox modelling a Cognac cellar and its evolution over time. The model was developed to link multiple variables both computational and based on experimental data. On the experimental side, a laboratory was built in order to control the climatic conditions and the characteristics of the barrels. The experiments highlighted that the physico-chemical behaviour is linked to the temperature and the dimensions of casks. These lab-scale observations were further validated in an industrial scale pilot setting. The qualitative validation of the climatic conditions inside the cellar on the quality of the eaux-de-vie is performed by the testing committee. On the computational side, modelling was conducted first to estimate the mass transfers at the stave scale and then to simulate the heat transfers at the barrel or cellar scales. The convective effects appeared highly influential on the thermal dynamic of the liquid and the air in the building. The experimental data enabled the validation of the modelling tools at different scales.

L’équilibre gustatif des vins secs repose notamment sur les saveurs amère et sucrée, dont les déterminants moléculaires n’ont été que partiellement élucidés. Un premier axe a consisté en l’étude de la contribution gustative des lignanes du chêne et neuf composés ont été observés pour la première fois dans le vin. Le (±)-lyonirésinol a été établi comme le plus amer et le plus abondant des lignanes isolés. Ses deux énantiomères ont été séparés, caractérisés par VCD et leur dégustation a révélé que seul le (+)-lyonirésinol possède une amertume modifiant le goût du vin. Dans un second axe, la saveur sucrée conférée par les raisins aux vins secs a été étudiée. Des expérimentations de vinification combinées à des outils sensoriels ont montré un gain de saveur sucrée au cours de la macération post-fermentaire à chaud et un effet des pépins de raisin sur le moelleux des vins secs. La mise en place d’un protocole de fractionnement d’extrait de pépins et de vin, par des techniques séparatives couplées à la gustatométrie, a permis la purification de six composés sapides. Plusieurs marqueurs de la sucrosité des vins secs ont ainsi été identifiés par FTMS et RMN : le mélange de deux nouvelles molécules, les acides 2-hydroxy-3-méthylpentanoïque-2-O-β-glucopyranoside et 2-hydroxy-4-méthylpentanoïque-2-O-β-glucopyranoside ; l’acide gallique-4-O-β-glucopyranoside et l’acide epi-DPA-3′-O-β-glucopyranoside, identifiés pour la première fois dans les vins, ainsi que l’ILA-Glc et l’astilbine. Ces nouveaux marqueurs ont été quantifiés dans les vins ainsi que dans les différentes parties de la baie pour préciser leur localisation et établir leur contribution gustative. / Dry wines taste balance is mainly based on bitter and sweet tastes, whose molecular determinants have been only partially explained. The first key objective was the study of the gustatory contribution of oak lignans. Nine compounds were identified in wines for the first time. (±)-lyoniresinol has been established as the bitterest and the most abundant of the isolated lignans. Its two enantiomers have been resolved, characterized by VCD and their tasting revealed that only (+)-lyoniresinol is bitter and modifies wine taste. In the second part of this work, the contribution of grapes to wine sweet taste has been studied. The combination between vinification experimentations and sensorial tools showed a gain of sweetness during a warm post-fermentative maceration as well as an influence of grape seeds on dry wine sweetness. A fractionation protocol of grape seeds macerates and wines has been established. Separation techniques coupled with gustatometry allowed the isolation of six taste active compounds. Several markers of dry wines sweetness have been identified by FTMS and NMR: the mix of two new compounds, 2-hydroxy-3-methylpentanoic-2-O-β-glucopyranoside and 2-hydroxy-4-methylpentanoic-2-O-β-glucopyranoside acids; gallic-4-O-β-glucopyranoside acid and epi-DPA-3′-O-β-glucopyranoside acid, identified for the first time in wines, ILA-Glc and astilbin. These new markers have been quantified in wines and in different parts of grape berry in order to refine their localization and to establish their gustatory contribution.

Thesis (PhD (Chemical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019 / The South African wine industry is constantly facing several challenges which affect the quality of wine, the local/global demand and consequently the revenue generated. These challenges include the ongoing drought, bush fires, climate change and several liquor amendment bills aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol outlets in South Africa. It is therefore critical for the wine industry to expand and find alternative ways in which sub-standard or surplus wine grapes can be used to prevent income losses and increase employment opportunities. Traditional Balsamic Vinegar (TBV) is a geographically and legislative protected product produced only in a small region in Italy. However, the methodology can be used to produce similar vinegars in other regions. Balsamic-styled vinegar (BSV), as defined in this thesis, is a vinegar produced by partially following the methods of TBV while applying process augmentation techniques. Balsamic-styled vinegar is proposed to be a suitable product of sub-standard quality or surplus wine grapes in South Africa. However, the production of BSV necessitates the use of cooked (high sugar) grape must which is a less favourable environment to the microorganisms used during fermentation. Factors that negatively affect the survival of the microorganisms include low water activity due to the cooking, high osmotic pressure and high acidity. To counteract these effects, methods to improve the survival of the non-Saccharomyces yeasts and acetic acid bacteria used are essential. The primary aim of this study was to investigate several BSV process augmentation techniques such as, aeration, agitation, cell immobilization, immobilized cell reusability and oxygen mass transfer kinetics in order to improve the performance of the microbial consortium used during BSV production. The work for this study was divided into four (4) phases. For all the phases a microbial consortium consisting of non-Saccharomyces yeasts (n=5) and acetic acid bacteria (n=5) was used. Inoculation of the yeast and bacteria occurred simultaneously. The 1st phase of the study entailed evaluating the effect of cells immobilized by gel entrapment in Ca-alginate beads alongside with free-floating cells (FFC) during the production of BSV. Two Ca-alginate bead sizes were tested i.e. small (4.5 mm) and large (8.5 mm) beads to evaluate the effects of surface area or bead size on the overall acetification rates. Ca-alginate beads and FFC fermentations were also evaluated under static and agitated (135 rpm) conditions. The 2nd phase of the study involved studying the cell adsorption technique for cell immobilization which was carried-out using corncobs (CC) and oak wood chips (OWC), while comparing to FFC fermentations. At this phase of the study, other vinegar bioreactor parameters such as agitation and aeration were studied in contrast to static fermentations. One agitation setting (135 rpm) and two aeration settings were tested i.e. high (0.3 vvm min−1) and low (0.15 vvm min−1) aeration conditions. Furthermore, to assess the variations in cell adsorption capabilities among individual yeast and AAB cells, the quantification of cells adsorbed on CC and OWC prior- and post-fermentation was conducted using the dry cell weight method. The 3rd phase of the study entailed evaluating the reusability abilities of all the matrices (small Ca-alginate beads, CC and OWC) for successive fermentations. The immobilized cells were evaluated for reusability on two cycles of fermentation under static conditions. Furthermore, the matrices used for cell immobilization were further analysed for structure integrity by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) before and after the 1st cycle of fermentations. The 3rd phase of the study also involved the sensorial (aroma and taste) evaluations of the BSV’s obtained from the 1st cycle of fermentation in order to understand the sensorial effects of the Ca-alginate beads, CC and OWC on the final BSV. The 4th phase of the study investigated oxygen mass transfer kinetics during non-aerated and aerated BSV fermentation. The dynamic method was used to generate several dissolved oxygen profiles at different stages of the fermentation. Consequently, the data obtained from the dynamic method was used to compute several oxygen mass transfer parameters, these include oxygen uptake rate ( 𝑟𝑟𝑂𝑂2 ), the stoichiometric coefficient of oxygen consumption vs acid yield (𝑌𝑌𝑂𝑂/𝐴𝐴), the oxygen transfer rate (𝑁𝑁𝑂𝑂2 ), and the volumetric mass transfer coefficients (𝐾𝐾𝐿𝐿𝑎𝑎). During all the phases of the study samples were extracted on weekly intervals to evaluate pH, sugar, salinity, alcohol and total acidity using several analytical instruments. The 4th phase of the study involved additional analytical tools, i.e. an oxygen µsensor to evaluate dissolved oxygen and the ‘Speedy breedy’ to measure the respiratory activity of the microbial consortium used during fermentation. The data obtained from the 1st phase of the study demonstrated that smaller Ca-alginate beads resulted in higher (4.0 g L-1 day−1) acetification rates compared to larger (3.0 g L-1 day−1) beads, while freely suspended cells resulted in the lowest (0.6 g L-1 day−1) acetification rates. The results showed that the surface area of the beads had a substantial impact on the acetification rates when gel entrapped cells were used for BSV fermentation. The 2nd phase results showed high acetification rates (2.7 g L-1 day−1) for cells immobilized on CC in contrast to cells immobilized on OWC and FFC, which resulted in similar and lower acetification rates. Agitated fermentations were unsuccessful for all the treatments (CC, OWC and FFC) studied. Agitation was therefore assumed to have promoted cell shear stress causing insufficient acetification during fermentations. Low aerated fermentations resulted in better acetification rates between 1.45–1.56 g L-1 day−1 for CC, OWC and FFC. At a higher aeration setting, only free-floating cells were able to complete fermentations with an acetification rate of 1.2 g L-1 day−1. Furthermore, the adsorption competence data showed successful adsorption on CC and OWC for both yeasts and AAB with variations in adsorption efficiencies, whereby OWC displayed a lower cell adsorption capability compared to CC. On the other hand, OWC were less efficient adsorbents due to their smooth surface, while the rough surface and porosity of CC led to improved adsorption and, therefore, enhanced acetification rates. The 3rd phase results showed a substantial decline in acetification rates on the 2nd cycle of fermentations when cells immobilized on CC and OWC were reused. While cells entrapped in Ca-alginate beads were able to complete the 2nd cycle of fermentations at reduced acetification rates compared to the 1st cycle of fermentations. The sensory results showed positive ratings for BSV’s produced using cells immobilized in Ca-alginate beads and CC. However, BSV’s produced using OWC treatments were neither ‘liked nor disliked’ by the judges. The SEM imaging results further showed a substantial loss of structural integrity for Ca-alginate beads after the 1st cycle fermentations, with minor changes in structural integrity of CC being observed after the 1st cycle fermentations. OWC displayed the same morphological structure before and after the 1st cycle fermentations which was attributed to their robustness. Although Ca-alginate beads showed a loss in structural integrity, it was still assumed that Ca-alginate beads provided better protection against the harsh environmental conditions in contrast to CC and OWC adsorbents due to the acetification rates obtained on both cycles. The 4th phase data obtained from the computations showed that non-aerated fermentations had a higher 𝑌𝑌𝑂𝑂/𝐴𝐴, 𝑟𝑟𝑂𝑂2 , 𝑁𝑁𝑂𝑂2 and a higher 𝐾𝐾𝐿𝐿𝑎𝑎 . It was clear that aerated fermentations had a lower aeration capacity due to an inappropriate aeration system design and an inappropriate fermentor. Consequently, aeration led to several detrimental biochemical changes in the fermentation medium thus affecting 𝐾𝐾𝐿𝐿𝑎𝑎 and several oxygen mass transfer parameters which serve as a driving force. Overall, it was concluded that the best method for BSV production is the use of cells entrapped in small alginate beads or cells adsorbed on CC under static and non-aerated fermentations. This conclusion was based on several factors such as cell affinity/cell protection, acetification rates, fermentation period and sensorial contributions. However, cells entrapped in Ca-alginate beads had the highest acetification rates. The oxygen mass transfer computations demonstrated a high 𝐾𝐾𝐿𝐿𝑎𝑎 when Ca-alginate beads were used under static-non-aerated conditions compared to fermentations treated with CC. Therefore, a fermentor with a high aeration capacity needs to be designed to best suit the two BSV production systems (Ca-alginate beads and CC). It is also crucial to develop methods which can increase the robustness of Ca-alginate beads in order to improve cell retention and reduce the loss of structural integrity for subsequent cycles of fermentation. Studies to define parameters used for upscaling the BSV production process for large scale productions are also crucial.

Die Anatomie des Holzes stellt eine entscheidende Einflussgröße bei einer Vielzahl holztechnologischer Prozesse dar. Der Beitrag soll mit Hilfe rasterelektronenmikroskopischer Bildtafeln den anatomischen Bau des Holzes der Weiß-Eichen anschaulich vermitteln.

Pyrolytic oils produced from poultry litter differ in physico-chemical properties and the chemical composition. The litter is composed of manure and bedding material with traces of spilled feed and feathers. The type and amount of bedding material was varied to investigate its influence on the pyrolysis of layer manure. 400g of each feedstock: manure, wood (pine and oak), and mixtures of manure and wood in proportions (75:25 50:50, and 25:75 w/w %) respectively were subjected to fast pyrolysis at 450oC in a fluidized bed reactor. The total pyrolytic oil yield ranged from 43.3% to 64.5 wt%. The highest bio oil yield and the lowest char yield were obtained from oak wood. The manure oil had the highest HHV of 29.7 MJ/kg, the highest pH (5.89), the lowest density (1.14 g/cm3) and a relatively low viscosity of 130cSt. The oils had relatively high nitrogen content ranging from 5.88wt% to 1.36 wt%; low ash content (approximately <0.07wt %) and low sulfur content (<0.28wt %). FT-IR, 13CNMR, and 1HNMR analysis showed that manure oil was rich in aliphatic hydrocarbon and primary and secondary amides and the addition of wood introduced oxygenated compounds like aliphatic alcohols, phenols, aromatic ethers, and carbonyl/carboxylic groups into the oil. TG/DTG analysis also showed that the thermal decomposition of the oils were different depending on the amount and the type of wood in the manure/wood mixture. The parametric variables used for the mixture of 50% manure and 50% pine wood shavings study were; temperature (400-550°C), nitrogen gas flow rate (12-24 L/min), and feed rate (160-480 g/h). The results showed that the pyrolysis product yields, physical properties and the chemical composition of the oil were influenced by all parameters. Temperature was the most influential factor and its effect on the liquid, char and gas yields were significant. It was evident that depending on the gas flow rate and the feed rate, a maximum oil yield (51.1wt.%) can be achieved between 400-500 oC. Also an increase in temperature significantly increased the oil viscosity and decreased the carbonyl/carboxylic and the primary aliphatic alcohol functional groups in the oil. The study on the influence of wood on the stability of the oils when stored at ambient conditions for 8 months in a 30ml glass bottle showed that the viscosity of the oils increases when stored, however the manure oil was relatively more stable and the oil from the 50/50 mixture for both pine and oak was the least stable. It was found that the stability of the oils from the manure and wood mixtures were dependent on the amount and the type of wood (pine or oak) added to the manure. Also the addition of 10% solvent (methanol/ethanol) to the oil from 50% manure and 50% pine reduced the initial viscosity of the oil and was also beneficial in slowing down the increase in viscosity during storage. / Master of Science

La présence d’un métabolisme actif des bactéries lactiques dans le vin logé en fûts de chêne induit une augmentation de la concentration des composés volatils du bois. Ce phénomène a récemment été attribué à l'activité glycosidique des bactéries. Le glucoside précurseur d'un composé majeur de l’arôme boisé (whiskylactone) a déjà été identifié et quantifié dans le bois de chêne. Mais aucune donnée n'était disponible jusqu’à présent concernant l’identification formelle des précurseurs pour d’autres arômes du bois de chêne.Un premier travail a permis de montrer que les précurseurs monoglycosides n'existaient pas dans le bois de chêne, dans les spiritueux et dans le vin. L'étude a été réalisée à l’aide de la technique UPLC-FT/MS, en utilisant la vanilline-β-D-glucopyranoside, la vanilline-β-D-xylopyranoside, et la coniféraldéhyde-β-D-glucopyranoside, synthétisées par réaction par transfert de phase. Dans un deuxième temps, une purification des précurseurs glycosidiques complexes a été réalisée à l’aide de la Chromatographie de Partage Centrifuge (CPC) à partir d’un extrait de bois de chêne. Le choix du système de solvants a été basé sur une égale répartition dans les deux phases de la libération d’arômes par hydrolyse enzymatique. Cela a conduit à la détermination du nouveau concept de coefficient de partage d’activité Kca. Après purification et fractionnement, la vanilline galloylglucoside, le triméthoxyphénol-galloyl-glucoside et le macarangioside E ont été isolés du bois et identifiés par HPLC-ESI-MS et RMN. Ces précurseurs ont été quantifiés dans différentes espèces de chêne par HPLC-QqQ-MS. Ces trois composés sont les précurseurs respectivement de la vanilline, du 3,4,5-triméthoxyphénol et du 3-oxo-α-ionol. Par dégradation thermique, le macarangioside E peut conduire à la mégastigmatriénone et à la 4-oxo-isophorone, dont les notes aromatiques sont le tabac et l’encens. Ces composés complètent la connaissance que nous avons de l’arôme boisé du vin et contribuent ainsi à une meilleure compréhension de la genèse du bouquet tertiaire. / The presence of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in oak barrels induces an increase in wood volatile compounds concentration. This phenomenon could be due to the glycosidic activity of LAB. The glucosidic precursor of a major woody aroma compound (oak lactone) was identified and quantified in oak wood but no data was available concerning the presence of other flavor precursors in oak wood. This study showed that monoglycosidic precursors did not exist in oak, in spirits and in wines. The study was performed by UPLC-FT/MS, using vanillin-β-D-glucopyranoside, vanillin-β-D-xylopyranoside, and coniferaldehyde-β-D-glucopyranoside as standards. These molecules were synthesized by phase transfer reaction. Purification of a vanillin glycoside precursor was done by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC). The choice of the solvent system was based on an equal distribution in both phases of the aromas released by enzymatic hydrolysis. This led to the determination of the new concept, the activity partition coefficient Kca. After purification and fractionation, vanillin galloylglucoside, trimethoxyphenol-galloylglucoside and macarangioside E were isolated from wood and identified by HPLC-ESI-MS and NMR analysis. These precursors were quantified in different oak species by HPLC-QqQ-MS. These three compounds are precursors of vanillin, 3,4,5-trimethoxyphenol and 3-oxo-α-ionol respectively. The macarangioside E can lead by thermal degradation, to megastigmatrienone and 4-oxo-isophorone which have aromatic notes of tobacco and incense. These compounds are involved in the woody aroma of the wine and the genesis of the bouquet.