Application of functionalized silical material to modulate the phenolic content and composition of red wines

Vukićević, Nataša (author), Košmerl, Tatjana (mentor), Aleixandre-Tudo, Jose Luis (comentor), Zlatić, Emil (reviewer)

The effects associated with climate change may lead to suboptimal phenolic accumulation in red wine grapes and phenolic content in the corresponding wines, potentially affecting their sensory quality. This study investigates the application of functionalized amorphous silica materials (Aerosil 200) as a strategy to modulate the phenolic composition of red wine. The aim was to investigate whether silica materials activated with two trialkoxysilanes with thiol (-SH) and amine (-NH₂) groups can interact effectively with specific phenolic compounds. Silica materials were prepared after functionalization with thiol and amine silanes at two concentrations. These materials were added to a red wine with contact times of 5 and 30 minutes. The phenolic composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric methods (total phenol index, anthocyanins, polymeric pigments, tannins, and color density) and exploratory HPLC analysis based on total peak areas at selected wavelengths (280, 314, 365, and 520 nm). Results showed that the thiol-functionalized material caused the greatest reduction in anthocyanins and polymeric pigments, especially at higher functionalization levels and longer contact times. Amine-functionalized samples showed moderate effects, particularly on tannins and hydroxycinnamic acids. HPLC findings confirmed these trends, suggesting phenolic specific class interactions. This study highlights the potential of functionalized silica materials as tools to modulate the phenolic profiles of wine. Future work should the address sensory effects and evaluates the long-term impact on wine quality.

• Language: English
• Keywords: red wine, phenolic compounds, silica materials, functionalization, 3- aminopropiltrietoxisilan, 3-mercaptopropiltrietoxisilan
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.09 - Master's Thesis
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publisher: [N. Vukićević]
• Year: 2025
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-174628
• UDC: 663.257:546.284
• COBISS.SI-ID: 252312579
• Publication date in RUL: 08.10.2025

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Uporaba funkcionaliziranega silikatnega materiala za modulacijo vsebnosti fenolov in sestave rdečih vin

Abstract

Učinki, povezani s podnebnimi spremembami, lahko privedejo do neoptimalnega kopičenja fenolnih spojin v grozdju rdečih vinskih sort ter posledično do spremenjene fenolne sestave v samem vinu, kar lahko vpliva na njegove senzorične lastnosti. Ta študija raziskuje uporabo funkcionaliziranih amorfnih silikatnih materialov (Aerosil 200) kot strategijo za modulacijo fenolne sestave rdečega vina. Cilj je bil raziskati, ali lahko silikatni materiali, funkcionalizirani z dvema vrstama trialkoksisilanov s tiolnimi (-SH) in aminskimi (-NH₂) skupinami, učinkovito interagirajo s specifičnimi fenolnimi spojinami. Silikatni materiali so bili po funkcionalizaciji s tiolnimi in aminskimi silani pripravljeni v dveh koncentracijah. Ti materiali so bili dodani v rdeče vino s kontaktnim časom 5 oziroma 30 minut. Fenolna sestava je bila ocenjena z uporabo spektrofotometričnih metod (indeks skupnih fenolov, antocianini, polimerni pigmenti, tanini in gostota barve) ter z HPLC analizo, ki je temeljila na skupnih površinah kromatografskih vrhov pri izbranih valovnih dolžinah (280, 314, 365 in 520 nm). Rezultati so pokazali, da so tiolno funkcionalizirani materiali povzročili najizrazitejše zmanjšanje vsebnosti antocianov in polimernih pigmentov, zlasti pri višji stopnji funkcionalizacije in daljšem kontaktnem času. Vzorci, obdelani z aminsko funkcionalizacijo, so imeli zmernejši učinek, predvsem na tanine in hidroksicimetne kisline. Rezultati HPLC analize so potrdili te trende in nakazali na specifične interakcije s posameznimi razredi fenolnih spojin. Študija poudarja potencial funkcionaliziranih silikatnih materialov kot orodja za prilagajanje fenolnega profila vina. Nadaljnje raziskave bi morale vključevati senzorične analize ter oceno dolgoročnih učinkov na kakovost vina.

• Keywords: rdeče vino, fenolne spojine, silikatni materiali, funkcionalizacija, 3-aminopropiltrietoksisilan, 3-merkaptopropiltrietoksisilan