With the transition to remote learning due to the COVID-19 outbreak, inquiry-based instrumental analysis lab projects have been developed implementing hands-on, at-home experiments. Here we report the results of a multi-week, method-comparison group project focused on the spectroscopic analysis of riboflavin. Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is a key player in the metabolism of ketone bodies, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins to provide energy. It is naturally found in meat, fish, and dairy, as well as a common additive to energy drinks and sports supplements. Riboflavin is unique in that it is fluorescent, and thus can be analyzed by fluorometric or spectrophotometric methods. In this presentation, we report a comparative analysis of riboflavin by these two methods using a Vernier GoDirect SpectroVis. We report that the fluorescence method was generally more sensitive with lower limits of detection and had a narrower linear range compared to absorbance methods on the same instrument. Ongoing research seeks to implement inexpensive 3D-printed and smartphone-based setups for the analysis of riboflavin.

Portable fluorometric analysis methods for the determination of riboflavin

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

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