The Title Page

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The Title Page
The Detection of Ethylene Glycol Based Poisons in
Bourbon-based Beverages with Fluorescence
Spectroscopy
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The Purpose
The purpose of the research is to detect the
presence, and the concentration of Ethylene
Glycol Based Poisons in Bourbon-based Beverages
using Fluorescence Spectroscopy
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Your Hypothesis

• Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) within
  Bourbon, as well as common commercial sources of
  Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) exhibit Fluorescent
  emissions.These PAHs Antifreeze emissions
  occur at different wavelengthsFluorescence
  spectroscopy can be used to detect the presence
  and concentration of Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze)
  in Bourbon beverages

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Your Procedural Plan

• Most bourbons are Aged Inside of Charred, burned
  Oak Barrels
• Burned Oak contains PolyAromatic Hydrocarbons
  (PAHs). These PAHs are transferred to the
  bourbon during Aging.
• The Color and Flavor of Bourbon are derived from
  this Burned Oak Aging.
• Trace amounts of these PAHs are dissolved in the
  bourbon these PAHs fluoresce in the Visible
  Region at 480 nm.

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Your Procedural Plan

• Antifreeze contains approximately 95 of Ethylene
  Glycol, which is the compound that is responsible
  for the cooling properties.
• Antifreeze also contains Fluorescein, which is
  the Aromatic Compound that provides the
  well-known Bright Green Color at 520 nm.
  Fluorescein is added so that a technician can
  easily diagnose a leak within the engines
  cooling system.

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Your Procedural Plan

• If ingested by Humans, Ethylene Glycol, while not
  immediately toxic, is metabolized within the body
  to Glycoaldehyde, and later metabolized to
  Glycolic Acid, Glyoxylic acid, and Oxalic Acid.
• These three toxic metabolites cause Central
  Nervous System (CNS) Depression (i.e. drowsiness,
  and respiratory failure), followed by
  Cardiopulmonary Disorder, and later Renal Damage.
• The Lethal Dose of Ethylene Glycol, for an adult
  human, is 10 milliliters.

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Your Procedural Plan

• Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to identify
  PAHs in Bourbon, which fluorescence at 470 nm.
• Ethylene glycol is most typically found in
  Antifreeze. Fluorescence Spectroscopy can be
  used to detect the typical green fluorescence,
  most commonly known as Antifreeze Green, with a
  fluorescent emission at 520 nm.

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The LS-50B Fluorescence Spectrometer
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Data Analysis
Emission Spectrum of Bourbon
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Emission Spectrum of AntiFreeze
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Emission Spectrum of Bourbon Drink with Ethylene
Glycol-based Poison
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Quantitative Results of Ethylene Glycol in
Bourbon Using a Beers Law Regression
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Results

• Fluorescence spectroscopy can be used to detect
  the presence of Antifreeze-based Ethylene Glycol
  (EG) Poisons in Bourbon
• A Beers Law plot of the Fluorescence Emission
  versus ml of Ethylene Glycol-based Poison can be
  used to detect the concentration of the ethylene
  glycol in a bourbon beverage
• Our analysis resulted in a EG concentration of 29
  ml, which exceeds the lethal dose of 10 ml.

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References

• Litten, S., Babish, J., Pastel, M., Werner, M.
  Relationship between fluorescence of polynuclear
  aromatic hydrocarbons in complex environmental
  mixtures and sample mutagenicity. Bulletin of
  Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, May,
  2005. Vol. 28, Issue 2, p. 141, 8p, (ISSN
  0007-4861), Database SpringerLink.
• Cording, M. Swinson, J. Assertive discipline
  in a school for pupils with emotional and
  behavioral difficulties.  British Journal of
  Special Education, June 2002. Vol. 29, Issue 2,
  p.72, 3p, (AN 6721010), Database Academic
  Research Premier.
• The Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic
  Hydrocarbons (PAH) in a Surface Soil Sample from
  Bamberton Cement Plant by High Pressure Liquid
  Chromatography. Retrieved October 20, 2006 from
  http//www.geocities.com/waterose_test/labs08b.htm
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