Abstract: Static adsorption experiments were carried out with simulated Chinese liquor containing 57% alcohol (V/V) added with dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) to investigate the adsorption efficiency of four macroporous resins and four special-purpose liquor carbon adsorbents towards the phthalate plasticizers. Further validation experiments were performed with Luzhou-flavor base liquor containing 57% alcohol (V/V) to find the optimal adsorbent for the removal of plasticizers from Chinese liquor based on the adsorption efficiency of plasticizers and losses of four major aroma components including ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl lactate and ethyl caproate. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency of JT201 and JT203 liquor carbon adsorbents towards four phthalate esters was better for simulated Chinese liquor, with average adsorption rates of 91.01% and 87.21%, respectively. The nonpolar resin D4006 had the best adsorption efficiency among four macroporous resins, giving an adsorption rate of 73.67%, while the average adsorption rates of the polar resin NKA-II and active carbon were only less than 60%. Therefore, JT201 and JT203 were chosen as the ideal absorbents. The adsorption rates of DMP and DBP onto JT201 and JT203 were higher than 90%, and the adsorption rates of DIBP and DEHP onto JT201 were higher than 80%, and were 78% and 72% onto JT203, respectively. The loss rates of ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl lactate, and ethyl caproate were 7.7%, 6.1%, 11.9%, 11.6% and 10.4%, 8.6%, 33.9%, 16.0% respectively. In conclusion, JT201 active carbon was chosen as the optimal absorbent for the removal of plasticizers from Luzhou-flavor base liquor in the present study.

Key words: Luzhou-flavor base liquor, phthalic acid ester (PAEs), adsorption, special-purpose liquor carbon adsorbent, macroporous resins