A method for the enzymatic determination of ethanol content in beer was adapted for a sophomore level analytical chemistry laboratory. This method was part of a module focused on determining ethanol content of beer by various analytical techniques, including density measurements, the current brewing industry standard technique, and gas chromatography. The results of these three methods will allow the students to use statistical analysis to compare the validity of multiple analytical techniques to the beer’s label value. A coupled enzymatic reaction with alcohol oxidase and peroxidase was used to determine kinetics by spectrophotometry. Kinetic rates were used to construct a standard curve of varying ethanol standards to determine the ethanol content of the beer samples. Key findings include a protocol appropriate for sophomore level chemistry students that is highly reproducible, the importance of an oxygen saturated chromogen solution, minimizing matrix effects and proper storage conditions for alcohol oxidase.

Spectrophotometric determination of ethanol concentration in beer utilizing an enzyme activity assay

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.