Impact of Fermentation Rate Changes on Potential Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations in Wine

The correlation between alcoholic fermentation rate, measured as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) evolution, and the rate of hydrogen sulfide ($H_2S$) formation during wine production was investigated. Both rates and the resulting concentration peaks in fermentor headspace $H_2S$ were directly impacted by yeast assimilable nitrogenous compounds in the grape juice. A series of model fermentations was conducted in temperature-controlled and stirred fermentors using a complex model juice with defined concentrations of ammonium ions and/or amino acids. The fermentation rate was measured indirectly by noting the weight loss of the fermentor; $H_2S$ was quantitatively trapped in realtime using a pre-calibrated $H_2S$ detection tube which was inserted into a fermentor gas relief port. Evolution rates for $CO_2$ and $H_2S$ as well as the relative ratios between them were calculated. These fermentations confirmed that total sulfide formation was strongly yeast strain-dependent, and high concentrations of yeast assimilable nitrogen did not necessarily protect against elevated $H_2S$ formation. High initial concentrations of ammonium ions via addition of diammonium phosphate (DAP) caused a higher evolution of $H_2S$ when compared with a non-supplemented but nondeficient juice. It was observed that the excess availability of a certain yeast assimilable amino acid, arginine, could result in a more sustained $CO_2$ production rate throughout the wine fermentation. The contribution of yeast assimilable amino acids from conventional commercial yeast foods to lowering of the $H_2S$ formation was marginal.