Reading chromatography paper

[cmason1957]

I would let your barrel and carboys go at least two weeks more and probably a month more. You still have Malic spots showing and chromotography shows clear at about 100 PPM, MLF completion is generally considered to be 30 PPM or less. If you do decide to add SO2, I would also suggest lysozome to ensure MLF doesn't kick back up later.

 

[BarrelMonkey]

I would let your barrel and carboys go at least two weeks more and probably a month more.

You're right, I should probably give it a few weeks. But I think there will always be a trace of a spot on the chromatogram, even when ML is done...

 

[wineview]

I would let your barrel and carboys go at least two weeks more and probably a month more. You still have Malic spots showing and chromotography shows clear at about 100 PPM, MLF completion is generally considered to be 30 PPM or less. If you do decide to add SO2, I would also suggest lysozome to ensure MLF doesn't kick back up later.

chromotography shows clear at about 100 PPM
What indicators bring you to such a precise conclusion?

 

[mainshipfred]

I found this with a quick search though there are several articles referencing it.

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs...files/2016/11/MalolacticAcid3Ways-1d0igwg.pdf

 

[wineview]

I found this with a quick search though there are several articles referencing it.

https://cpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/blogs...files/2016/11/MalolacticAcid3Ways-1d0igwg.pdf

Yes I see the dots lining up evenly with the Malic dot. Is that considered 100ppm?

 

[cmason1957]

chromotography shows clear at about 100 PPM
What indicators bring you to such a precise conclusion?

100 PPM (also represented as 0.1 g/l) is the generally recognized lower limit for Paper Chromatography. There are several references available to back up that number. The 30 PPM number can be found in many of these and other articles as well.

http://mowse.blogspot.com/2014/06/monitoring-malolactic-fermentation.htmlhttps://blog.juicegrape.com/index.php/2019/11/conducting-paper-chromatography/https://vinmetrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Malic_testing_comparisons_original_SC-50.pdfhttps://www.researchgate.net/public...tic_fermentation_in_wines_by_TLC-Densitometry

 

[cmason1957]

Yes I see the dots lining up evenly with the Malic dot. Is that considered 100ppm?

Not really, the dots will line up, it's the nature of Chromotography. The lack of a malic acid spot doesn't mean that MLF is complete, it stops showing up, when your Malic acid level reaches about 100 Parts per Million, but you should not consider MLF completed and not going to fire back up until you reach lower than that or 30 PPM.

 

[wineview]

Not really, the dots will line up, it's the nature of Chromotography. The lack of a malic acid spot doesn't mean that MLF is complete, it stops showing up, when your Malic acid level reaches about 100 Parts per Million, but you should not consider MLF completed and not going to fire back up until you reach lower than that or 30 PPM.

Just to be clear. No spots is 100 ppm but leave the wine alone for say another month to be sure it drops to 30ppm?

 

[cmason1957]

Just to be clear. No spots is 100 ppm but leave the wine alone for say another month to be sure it drops to 30ppm?

Waiting for MLF to complete fully is always a good idea and yes, you stated what I suggest perfectly.