Abstract
A yeast pitching method utilizing a firefly bioluminescence adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay for the quantification of viable yeast cells is described. The chief advantage of this method is that more consistent yeast pitching results are obtained. The basis of the test is that there exists a positive correlation between yeast ATP concentrations and the number of viable yeast cells within a given population. The measurement for ATP is unaffected by the presence of extraneous solids or dead yeast cells and is therefore a more reliable test than the widely used percent solids determination. Production scale tests of this method resulted in improved fermentations with an average increase in Apparent Degree of Fermentation of 3.6%. In one case, fermentations were nearly the same, even though the “test” fermenters received 34% less yeast than the control fermenters. In this case the major benefit was increased Enzinger filter life due to reduced load.
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