Method for testing carbonation loss from beverage bottles using IR spectroscopy

A method of non-destructively measuring carbonation of a liquid in a sealed container, the container containing the liquid up to a certain level and a headspace thereabove with CO.sub.2 gas therein;

• comprising the steps of:
• transmitting a beam of infrared radiation through the headspace and the CO.sub.2 gas therein;
• and
• selectively detecting the intensity of the infrared radiation transmitted therethrough in the range of wavenumbers from about 4922 to about 5034 to thereby determine the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the headspace and the carbonation of the liquid.

A method of predicting shelf-life of carbonated liquids in bottles by periodically measuring the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the headspace of the bottle, comprising the steps of:

• a) constraining sidewall portions surrounding the headspace at the time of measurement in order to maintain the shape and dimensions thereof substantially constant;
• b) transmitting a beam of infrared radiation through said sidewall portions surrounding the headspace and the CO.sub.2 gas therein;
• c) selectively detecting the intensity of the infrared radiation transmitted therethrough to thereby determine the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the headspace and the carbonation of the liquid;
• and
• d) periodically repeating steps a) to c) over a predetermined period of time and collecting data relating to the carbonation of the liquid;
• and
• e) calculating a predicted shelf-life from that data.

A method of predicting shelf-life of carbonated liquids in bottles by periodically measuring the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the bottle, comprising the steps of:

• a) filling the bottle with a predetermined quantity of dry ice;
• b) applying a cap to the bottle to hermetically seal the dry ice therein;
• c) transmitting a beam of infrared radiation through selected sidewall portions of the bottle and the CO.sub.2 gas therein;
• d) selectively detecting the intensity of the infrared radiation transmitted therethrough to thereby determine the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the bottle;
• e) periodically repeating steps c) and d) over a predetermined period of time and collecting data relating to the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the bottle;
• and
• f) calculating a predicted shelf-life of carbonated liquids from that data.

A method of predicting shelf-life of carbonated liquids in bottles by periodically measuring the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the bottle, comprising the steps of:

• a) filling the bottle with CO.sub.2 gas;
• b) transmitting a beam of infrared radiation through selected sidewall portions of the bottle and the CO.sub.2 gas therein;
• c) selectively detecting the intensity of the infrared radiation transmitted therethrough to thereby determine the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the bottle;
• d) periodically repeating steps b) and c) over a predetermined period of time and collecting data relating to the concentration of CO.sub.2 gas in the bottle;
• and
• e) calculating a predicted shelf-life of carbonated liquids from that data.