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GHS Honors ResearchGHS Honors Research

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The Detection of Ethylene Glycol The Detection of Ethylene Glycol Based Poisons in Bourbon-based Based Poisons in Bourbon-based

Beverages with Fluorescence Beverages with Fluorescence SpectroscopySpectroscopy


The PurposeThe Purpose

The purpose of the research is to The purpose of the research is to detect the presence, and the detect the presence, and the

concentration of Ethylene Glycol concentration of Ethylene Glycol Based Poisons in Bourbon-based Based Poisons in Bourbon-based Beverages using Fluorescence Beverages using Fluorescence

SpectroscopySpectroscopy


Your HypothesisYour Hypothesis• Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s) Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s)

within Bourbon, as well as common within Bourbon, as well as common commercial sources of Ethylene Glycol commercial sources of Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) exhibit Fluorescent (Antifreeze) exhibit Fluorescent emissions.emissions.These PAH’s & Antifreeze emissions These PAH’s & Antifreeze emissions occur at different wavelengthsoccur at different wavelengthsFluorescence spectroscopy can be used Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to detect the presence and to detect the presence and concentration of Ethylene Glycol concentration of Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) in Bourbon beverages(Antifreeze) in Bourbon beverages


Your Procedural PlanYour Procedural Plan

• Most bourbons are Aged Inside of Charred, Most bourbons are Aged Inside of Charred, burned Oak Barrelsburned Oak Barrels

• Burned Oak contains Burned Oak contains PolyAromatic PolyAromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s)Hydrocarbons (PAH’s). These PAH’s are . These PAH’s are transferred to the bourbon during Aging.transferred to the bourbon during Aging.

• The Color and Flavor of Bourbon are derived The Color and Flavor of Bourbon are derived from this Burned Oak Aging.from this Burned Oak Aging.

• Trace amounts of these PAH’s are dissolved Trace amounts of these PAH’s are dissolved in the bourbon; these PAH’s fluoresce in the in the bourbon; these PAH’s fluoresce in the Visible Region at 480 nm.Visible Region at 480 nm.



• Antifreeze contains approximately 95% of Antifreeze contains approximately 95% of Ethylene Glycol, which is the compound Ethylene Glycol, which is the compound that is responsible for the cooling that is responsible for the cooling properties. properties.

• Antifreeze also contains Fluorescein, which Antifreeze also contains Fluorescein, which is the Aromatic Compound that provides is the Aromatic Compound that provides the well-known Bright Green Color at 520 the well-known Bright Green Color at 520 nm. Fluorescein is added so that a nm. Fluorescein is added so that a technician can easily diagnose a leak within technician can easily diagnose a leak within the engine’s cooling system.the engine’s cooling system.


Your Procedural PlanYour Procedural Plan• If ingested by Humans, Ethylene Glycol, If ingested by Humans, Ethylene Glycol,

while not immediately toxic, is metabolized while not immediately toxic, is metabolized within the body to Glycoaldehyde, and later within the body to Glycoaldehyde, and later metabolized to Glycolic Acid, Glyoxylic acid, metabolized to Glycolic Acid, Glyoxylic acid, and Oxalic Acid.and Oxalic Acid.

• These three toxic metabolites cause Central These three toxic metabolites cause Central Nervous System (CNS) Depression (i.e. Nervous System (CNS) Depression (i.e. drowsiness, and respiratory failure), drowsiness, and respiratory failure), followed by Cardiopulmonary Disorder, and followed by Cardiopulmonary Disorder, and later Renal Damage.later Renal Damage.

• The Lethal Dose of Ethylene Glycol, for an The Lethal Dose of Ethylene Glycol, for an adult human, is 10 milliliters.adult human, is 10 milliliters.



• Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to identify PAH’s in Bourbon, which to identify PAH’s in Bourbon, which fluorescence at 470 nm.fluorescence at 470 nm.

• Ethylene glycol is most typically found in Ethylene glycol is most typically found in Antifreeze. Fluorescence Spectroscopy Antifreeze. Fluorescence Spectroscopy can be used to detect the typical green can be used to detect the typical green fluorescence, most commonly known as fluorescence, most commonly known as Antifreeze Green, with a fluorescent Antifreeze Green, with a fluorescent emission at 520 nm.emission at 520 nm.


The LS-50B Fluorescence The LS-50B Fluorescence SpectrometerSpectrometer


Data AnalysisData Analysis

Excitation Wavelength = 395 nmEmission Spectrum of Bourbon

Spectrum Name: BOURBON.SP Description: Bourbon Sample

Date Created: Wed Jan 09 10:59:44 2002

Data Interval: 0.50 nmInstrument Model: LS55

Scan Speed: 960 nm/minEmission Slit Width: 15.00 nmExcitation Slit Width: 8.00 nm

Time: 10:58:17 AMDate: 1/17/2002

405.0 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 620 640 660 680 700.5

0.0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

130

140

150

160

170

180

192.6

nm

Emission Spectrum of BourbonEmission Spectrum of Bourbon


Emission Spectrum of AntifreezeExcitation Wavelength = 395 nm

Spectrum Name: antifreeze2.sp Description: Antifreeze Spectrum


Data Interval: 0.50 nmInstrument Model: Arithmetic


Time: 10:58:17 AMDate: 1/17/2002

405.0 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 620 640 660 680 700.5

-0.1

20

40

60

80

100

120

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160

180

200

220

240

260

280

300.0

nm

Emission Spectrum of AntiFreezeEmission Spectrum of AntiFreeze


Emission Spectrum of Bourbon Emission Spectrum of Bourbon Drink with Ethylene Glycol-based Drink with Ethylene Glycol-based

PoisonPoison

Excitation Wavelength = 395 nm

Antifreeze Emission

Bourbon Emission Emission Spectrum of Victim's Bourbon Drink

Spectrum Name: VICDRINK.SP Description: Victim's Bourbon Drink


Data Interval: 0.50 nmInstrument Model: LS55


Time: 10:58:17 AMDate: 1/17/2002

405.0 420 440 460 480 500 520 540 560 580 600 620 640 660 680 700.5

0.3

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

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240

260

280

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340.5

nm


Quantitative Results of Ethylene Glycol Quantitative Results of Ethylene Glycol in Bourbon Using a Beer’s Law in Bourbon Using a Beer’s Law

RegressionRegression


ResultsResults• Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used

to detect the presence of Antifreeze-to detect the presence of Antifreeze-based Ethylene Glycol (EG) Poisons in based Ethylene Glycol (EG) Poisons in BourbonBourbon

• A Beer’s Law plot of the Fluorescence A Beer’s Law plot of the Fluorescence Emission versus ml of Ethylene Glycol-Emission versus ml of Ethylene Glycol-based Poison can be used to detect the based Poison can be used to detect the concentration of the ethylene glycol in a concentration of the ethylene glycol in a bourbon beveragebourbon beverage

• Our analysis resulted in a EG Our analysis resulted in a EG concentration of 29 ml, which exceeds concentration of 29 ml, which exceeds the lethal dose of 10 ml.the lethal dose of 10 ml.


ReferencesReferencesLitten, S., Babish, J., Pastel, M., & Werner, M. Relationship Litten, S., Babish, J., Pastel, M., & Werner, M. Relationship

between fluorescence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons between fluorescence of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in complex environmental mixtures and sample in complex environmental mixtures and sample mutagenicity. mutagenicity. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Toxicology, May, 2005. Vol. 28, Issue 2, p. 141, 8p, (ISSN May, 2005. Vol. 28, Issue 2, p. 141, 8p, (ISSN 0007-4861), Database: SpringerLink.0007-4861), Database: SpringerLink.

Cording, M. & Swinson, J. Assertive discipline in a school for Cording, M. & Swinson, J. Assertive discipline in a school for pupils with emotional and behavioral difficulties. pupils with emotional and behavioral difficulties. British British Journal of Special Education, Journal of Special Education, June 2002. Vol. 29, Issue 2, June 2002. Vol. 29, Issue 2, p.72, 3p, (AN 6721010), Database: Academic Research p.72, 3p, (AN 6721010), Database: Academic Research Premier.Premier.

The Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) The Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in a Surface Soil Sample from Bamberton Cement Plant by in a Surface Soil Sample from Bamberton Cement Plant by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Retrieved October High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Retrieved October 20, 2006 from 20, 2006 from http://www.geocities.com/waterose_test/labs08b.htmlhttp://www.geocities.com/waterose_test/labs08b.html

http://www.geocities.com/waterose_test/labs08b.html

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