Influence of Electrochemical Oxidation on the Maturation Process of the Distilled Spirit

Optimizing the aging process is urgently required in the distilled spirit industry because of the time-consuming and expensive procedure of natural aging. Herein, the componential changes of the liquor sample are confirmed by the component analysis (e.g., gas chromatograph), and the effect of electrochemical oxidization treatment on the overall properties of typical Chinese liquor (Baijiu) is investigated. The key finding is that high oxidative potential can be used to catalyze the oxidation of alcohols, and the reaction rate is dramatically faster than that in the process of natural aging. The present study reveals the influence of electrochemical oxidation on the contents of compounds (particularly, the alcohols) in Baijiu and offers a perspective into the utilization of electrochemical oxidization treatment as an alternative strategy for artificial maturation of Baijiu.