Low-cost fermenters for laboratory-scale beer fermentation experiments

Authors

  • Tallis Vinícius Araújo da Silva Universidade Federal de Alfenas
  • Bruno Martins Dala Paula Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
  • Gabriel Gerber Hornink Universidade Federal de Alfenas

Keywords:

beer; fermentation; pieak-fermenters; small scale

Abstract

Innovation is fundamental to the growth of the brewing industry, and the improvement of small-scale testing can accelerate scientific and technological development. This study aimed to build and validate a system of pico-fermenters (PC) for academic research with beer wort. The PFs, with a capacity of up to 35 ml of wort, were produced from 50 ml Falcon tubes adapted with silicone probes for sampling and gas emission. The system is low cost, easy to assemble, and allows multiple tests to be performed in parallel. Validation was performed by comparing fermentations conducted in PCs and in conventional volumes, analyzing pH, specific gravity, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH). The results showed high statistical similarity between the methods, confirming the applicability of PCs for fermentation studies, expanding the variety of tests and repetitions, with better use of time and resources.

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Published

2026-04-05

How to Cite

VINÍCIUS ARAÚJO DA SILVA, T.; MARTINS DALA PAULA, B. .; GERBER HORNINK, G. . Low-cost fermenters for laboratory-scale beer fermentation experiments. Revista Conecta, São Paulo, Brasil, v. 9, n. 1, p. 97–114, 2026. Disponível em: https://www.fatecrl.edu.br/revistaconecta/index.php/rc/article/view/371. Acesso em: 14 apr. 2026.

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Vol. 9 No. 1 (2026): Revista Conecta

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