Alcohol Specifications

Germany

Bundesmonopolverwaltung fuer Branntwein ("BFB")

Specifications for Neutral Spirits
(a) Grade 410, Neutral Spirit ("Primasprit")
(b) Grade 430, Extra-Neutral Spirit ("Extrafein Filtriert")
(c) Grade 510, Anhydrous/Absolute Spirit ("Entwaessert")

  Characteristic Grade 410
Neutral
(Primasprit)
Grade 430
Extra Neutral
(Extrafein)

Grade 510
Anhydrous
(Entwaessert)

1. Alcohol content at 20°C,
in percent by volume, minimum
96.0 96.0 99.8
2. Appearance, odor and taste Colorless, clear and neutral
3. Ultraviolet absorption, maximum,
at 220 nm
at 230 nm
at 240 nm
at 270 nm

0.3
0.18
0.08
0.02

0.3
0.18
0.08
0.02

0.3
0.18
0.02
0.02
4. Permanganate time,
in minutes, minimum
18 22 18
5. Fusels,
in mg/100 ml, maximum
0.4 (4 p.p.m) 0.2 (2 p.p.m) 0.4 (4 p.p.m)
6. Furfural presence Negative Negative Negative
7. Aldehydes, as acetaldehyde,
in mg/100 ml, maximum
0.4 (4 p.p.m) 0.2 (2 p.p.m) 0.4 (4 p.p.m)
8. Esters, as ethyl acetate
in mg/100 ml, maximum
0.2 (2 p.p.m) 0.2 (2 p.p.m) 0.2 (2 p.p.m)
9. Total acids, as acetic acid,
in mg/100 ml, maximum
0.5 (5 p.p.m) 0.3 (3 p.p.m) 0.5 (5 p.p.m)
10. Volatile nitrogenous compounds,
 as N, in mg/100 ml, maximum
0.1 (1 p.p.m) 0.1 (1 p.p.m) 0.1 (1 p.p.m)
11. Methanol,
in mg/100 ml, maximum
15 (150 p.p.m) 10 (100 p.p.m) 1 (10 p.p.m)
12. Non-volatile residue after
evaporation, in mg/100 ml, maximum
1.5 (15 p.p.m) 1.5 (15 p.p.m) 1.5 (15 p.p.m)
13. Ash,
in mg/100 ml, maximum
0.3 (3 p.p.m) 0.3 (3 p.p.m) 0.3 (3 p.p.m)
14. Water entrainer, (benzene, etc.)
in mg/100 ml, maximum
__ __ 0.1 (1 p.p.m)

 Note:
The figures for parts per million (p.p.m), which appear in parentheses, are not contained in the original BFB specification, but have been added to facilitate comparisons with other specifications.

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