Possible new solution to TCA-infected corks

Published: 23 July, 2008

Portugal's cork research institute (CTCOR) is claiming it has developed a possible solution to the TCA cork-taint problem.

Unlike the ROSA process developed by Amorim, and the Diamond process being trialled by Sabat (Portugal's two main cork producers), the new technique, dubbed Symbios', treats the bark prior to producing the cork rather than afterwards.

CTCOR said that it has discovered that by introducing an unnamed additive while it is being boiled, the bark develops harmless' micro-organisms, rather than TCA, the molecule responsible for the majority of cork taint. The process had its first industrial tests last year.

Carlos de Jesus, director of marketing and communication at Amorim, welcomed the new development: Any new research is good news and makes it more likely that we will get a positive result.'

Harpers understands that so far only a few initial tests have been carried out and there are still doubts as to whether they can be reproduced on an industrial scale.

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