Analytical Chemistry Commons^™

Isolation Of Lavender Compounds Via Steam Distillation, Emma Norris, Gwendolyn Flippin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was used to extract (R)- Linalool, Linalyl acetate, and Camphor from lavender during the steam distillation experiment. The compounds were extracted via a steam distillation apparatus. A 250 mL two-neck round-bottom flask, a thermometer adapter, 25 mL a thermometer, a condenser, a distillation head, a vacuum adapter, lab jacks, and clamps made up the apparatus. Then the lavender was massed out and added to a beaker with 100 mL of water. Over time, the distillate is collected in a vial to be analyzed. (R)- Linalool is a nonaromatic alcohol containing two alkenes with the chemical formula C_10 H_18 …

Chemical Profiling Of Star Anise (Illicium Verum) Via Gc–Ms: Identifying Compounds With Pharmaceutical Potential, Legacy Wilson, Yegor Bushnev

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Title: Chemical Profiling of Star Anise (Illicium verum) via GC–MS: Identifying Compounds with Pharmaceutical Potential   Abstract: Star anise (Illicium verum) has been used for both medicinal and culinary applications due to its diverse bioactive compounds. It is a primary natural source of shikimic acid (𝐶7𝐻10𝑂5), a key precursor in the synthesis of the antiviral drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu), used to treat influenza. Additionally, star anise has been used to treat respiratory and digestive conditions and is widely used for flavoring due to its licorice-like aroma, mainly from trans-anethole (𝐶10𝐻12𝑂) , its major component. Previous studies have also demonstrated mild central nervous …

Extracting Aromatic Compounds From Dehydrated Rose Buds, Lana Sheridan

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Eugenol (C10H12O2), methyl eugenol (C11H14O2), and 2-phenylethanol (C8H10O) are chemically aromatic, natural compounds commonly present in various botanical sources and essential oils. Structurally, eugenol is a methoxyphenol bearing an allyl side chain; its methyl ether derivative, methyl eugenol, shares a similar framework but features a methoxy group replacing the free phenolic hydroxyl group found in eugenol. 2-Phenylethanol is an aromatic alcohol comprised of a benzene ring linked to an ethanol moiety. The objective of this project was to isolate and characterize these compounds in dried rose buds using distillation followed by chromatographic and spectrometric analysis. For the experiment, a steam …

Steam Distillation Star Anise, Makayla Maso, Kiara Maso

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Star anise (Illicium verum) contains several volatile organic compounds responsible for its characteristic aroma, including trans-anethole, estragole, limonene, and linalool. These compounds differ in structure and chemical properties, which influence their behavior during isolation and analysis. Trans-anethole and estragole are classified as aromatic phenylpropene derivatives that contain benzene rings and ether functionalities. In contrast, limonene and linalool are non-aromatic terpenes, with linalool additionally possessing an alcohol functional group. These compounds are widely utilized as flavoring agents and fragrance components, while terpenes such as limonene and linalool are also commonly employed as solvents and in formulation chemistry due to their volatility …

Extraction Of Cedarwood Essential Oils Via Steam Distillation, Forrest Dohner

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Many natural materials, including pine and eucalyptus, produce distinct scents due to the presence of volatile organic compounds. In cedarwood, this aroma arises from a combination of aromatic molecules, which are organic compounds containing conjugated carbon ring systems that interact with olfactory receptors. Specifically, cedarwood contains three primary compounds responsible for its scent: cedrol, cedrene, and thujopene. The objective of this experiment was to extract these essential oils from cedarwood and identify their chemical composition. Steam distillation was used to isolate the volatile components by passing steam through the cedarwood, causing the essential oils to vaporize at temperatures below their …

Production And Analysis Of Lavender Essential Oil: Extraction, Composition, And Applications, Mary Zoeller

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Steam distillation was performed to extract essential oil from lavender and analyze its chemical composition. Lavender is known to contain several compounds such as linalool, terpinen-4-ol, and linalyl acetate, which contribute to its characteristic aroma and biological activity. The purpose of this experiment was to isolate these compounds without decomposition and identify them using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Approximately 14.851 g of lavender was heated with water to generate steam, which carried the volatile compounds into a condenser where the vapor was cooled and collected. The distillate was transferred to a separatory funnel to isolate the organic layer from the …

Steam Distillation Of Jasmine, Mikayla Hulvey, Meliah Martin

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This experiment aimed to isolate various components, including benzyl acetate, linalool, indole, and farnesene, from jasmine buds. The functional groups include an ester in benzyl acetate, an alcohol in linalool, an amine in indole, and alkenes in farnesene. Jasmine buds were combined with distilled water and steam distilled using a standard distillation apparatus. The distillate, containing hydrosol and trace amounts of essential oil, was then collected for extraction using methyl tert-butyl (MTBE) for a liquid-liquid extraction. The organic layer was then separated, washed using brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and then transferred for later analysis. The essential oil obtained …

Laser Ablation-Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy Of Yttrium Plasma, Dawn Gipson

Create@State

Laser ablation is a widely used sampling method for elemental chemical analysis. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ablation inductively-coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) are the two most common implementations. Application of these techniques is found throughout the sciences, including analysis in archaeological settings, geology, and medical analysis of hard tissue such as teeth or bone. Many applications benefit from the microdestructive nature of the technique. However, the relationship between the laser-ablation crater and the analytical signal is poorly understood. Laser ablation-atomic absorption spectroscopy (LA-AAS) is used in our laboratory to determine the mass of material incorporated into the plasmas in …

Spilling The Tea: Effects Of Uv Disinfection On Bioactive Compounds In South African Rooibos Tea, Sora Ghanem, Leah Ankiah, Yusra Ahmed

Student Scholar Symposium

This study investigated the effects of ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection on key bioactive flavonoid compounds in rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis). There is an interest in non-thermal food preservation technologies, and UV treatment offers potential advantages for beverage processing. However, concerns exist regarding possible degradation of health-promoting compounds during treatment. Rooibos tea samples were subjected to five UV exposure intensities (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 mJ/cm²), and concentrations of four major flavonoids (aspalathin, orientin, vitexin, and rutin) were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Surprisingly, most flavonoids showed stability or slight concentration increases at higher UV doses. Aspalathin concentrations …

Unveiling Hidden Hazards: A Complementary Approach To Affordable Non-Destructive Heavy Metal Detection, Mario Faragalla, Gulsin Barwari, Makenzie Brinkoeter, Eimy Lozano-Fuentes, Isabelle Riera

Student Scholar Symposium

History has bestowed upon us vast treasures, with the Victorian Era offering a wealth of gifts, such as vibrant art and even secrets preserved in books of this period. However, concealed within the pigments that bring these works to life lie heavy metals. Not only do they pose significant health risks, but they can also be found within these pieces centuries later. Intrigued by the Winterthur project, Beaman librarians, Jan Cohu and Kayla Rutledge, discovered that our library housed some of these Victorian Era books. From there, the Beaman staff sent an inquiry to the chemistry department and Dr. Weinstein-Webb …

Fermented Foul Play: A Real-World Forensic Scenario To Enhance Student Engagement And Understanding Of Instrumentation And Analytical Data Analysis, Abigail Hoermann, Laci Joy Walmer, Matthew J. Goss

Student Scholar Symposium

A forensic-style investigation was introduced in an upper-level instrumental analysis course to foster collaboration and application of theoretical concepts in a laboratory setting. Students were provided with kombucha samples collected from a simulated crime scene and tasked with determining ethanol concentrations using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). By independently preparing serial dilutions, establishing calibration curves, and interpreting mass spectra, they practiced quantitative analytical techniques and engaged in evidence-based problem solving. Notably, Sample C demonstrated elevated ethanol levels (6.4% v/v), suggesting possible adulteration and deepening the forensic narrative. Through this scenario-driven format, students strengthened both their technical competencies and their ability to …

Integrating Multimodal Analysis For Chemical Detection In Victorian Bookcloth: Correlations, Advantages, And Limitations, Leila Ais, Abigail L. Hoermann, Jafer Aljorani

Student Scholar Symposium

The detection of heavy metals in Victorian textiles presents a set of unique analytical challenges that cannot be addressed through usage of a single modality. Here, we detail a novel multimodal analytical approach that integrates distinct yet complementary instrumentation: inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) offering precise quantitative elemental analysis, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) enabling rapid, affordable, and non-destructive detection, electron dispersive spectroscopy – scanning electron microscopy (EDS-SEM) mapping elemental distributions and sample topography, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealing crystalline structures. This comparative study highlights the strengths and limitations of each analytical technique, demonstrating how their combined use provides a …

Hplc Method Development For The Separation And Quantification Of Common Pain Relievers, Dylan Pritchett, Joshua Lewis, Jennifer Firestine

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Over-the-counter pain relievers often contain multiple active ingredients that can be analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). A method developed and optimized to separate acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine from these tablets. The contents of Excedrin pain relievers and the generic counterpart from Walgreens, Walmart, and CVS were tested. Optimization examined multiple mobile phases, temperatures, and run times for the procedure. The results were compared to analytically prepared standards as well as the packaging information, with the primary goal of creating a reproducible and efficient protocol for HPLC instrumentation. The method successfully separated the contents of all materials reliably within …

Maldi-Mass Spectrometry Imaging To Investigate Distribution Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances In Exposed Poplar Tissues, Tonglin Zhou, Varuni Abhayarayne, Joseph Akor, Honglan Shi, Paul Ki-Souk Nam, Joel Gerard Burken, John Yang

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Antimicrobial Effect Of Herbs Extracted With Ethanol Compared To Ampicillin, Brianna Neilan, Laura Rowe

Posters-at-the-Capitol

Antibiotics are commonly used to treat bacterial infections within the medical field, however there are growing concerns of antibiotic resistance. Before the introduction of antibiotics herbs were commonly used to treat infections, and herbal medicine is still used in many communities and cultures. Bacteria’s increasing resistance to traditional antibiotics has caused herbal medicines to become a significant research topic recently. Methods of herbal medicine preparation include preparing teas using hot water, and tinctures that soak herbs in alcohol for several weeks. Previous research has shown significant antimicrobial effects of some herbs when soaked in water and other liquids. The aim …

New Ways To Improve Dispersibility Of Nanotubes: Approaching From The Formation Of Silicon Nanoparticles By High Energy Reactive Ball Milling (Herbm) In Polar Solvents, Julie P. Vanegas, Yolanda V. Gutierrez, Joaquin Rivera, Juan García Jr.

Research Symposium

Background: This research aims to synthesize stable silicon nanoparticles using different molar ratios of N-Cyclohexyl-2-pyrrolidone (CHP) and Silicon to demonstrate if there is any significance towards the production of effective nanotubes. To determine this, the synthesized nanoparticles will be characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV visible absorption spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL).

Methods: 50 Mg of silicon wafer are added with differing ratios of ligand (CHP), 5mL of water, and 3 steel iron balls into a ball milling vial. Vials are then placed into a ball milling apparatus for 7 cycles or 3.5 hours. Once the cycles are complete, …

Determining The Ideal Concentrations Of Ethanol And Propylene Glycol In Ethosomes For Transdermal Delivery Of Vitamin D3, Rebecca Conner

Harrisburg University Research Symposium: Highlighting Research, Innovation, & Creativity

Vitamin D₃ is an important chemical in the human body, however, many Americans have low levels of this vitamin. There are plenty of oral supplementations for Vitamin D₃ deficiency, but those of older age and busy schedules may struggle to meet the minimum requirement. A recently developed ethosomal transmembrane delivery system (Touitou, 2000), similar to liposomes but also containing ethanol, allows users to apply a gel dermally and have the desired drug or active ingredient reach the bloodstream faster. However, there is considerable variation in the concentration of ethanol and permeation enhancers used. Using an affordable method to …

Quantitation Of Female Newt Tetrodotoxin Concentrations And Their Impact In The Newt-Garter Snake Evolutionary Arms Race, Anna Frey, David Green Dr., Lee Kats Dr., Gary Bucciarelli Dr.

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

As this work is not yet published, the authors have requested the removal of the abstract.

Investigation Of Unexpected Purple Substance Extracted From Newsprint Paper [Poster], Raquel Wilhelm, Shoshanna Coon, Kirk Manfredi

Research in the Capitol

In an attempt to extract a green dye from newsprint advertisements, it was serendipitously discovered that a purple substance can be extracted from newsprint paper using methanol or acetic acid. Further investigations involving blank newsprint paper showed that the purple substance was a part of the paper itself rather than a component of the ink in the advertisements. Soxhlet extraction was used on the blank newspaper print to obtain the compound. Using different analytical instruments, characteristics of the compound can be determined such as the elemental composition, molar mass, and structure. The ultimate goal is to determine the compound and …

Development Of An Lcms Method To Detect And Quantify Curcumin In A Novel Oral Formulation Of Turmeric, Brandon Renninger

Annual Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy Analysis Of Native American Pottery For Maple Syrup Residue [Poster], Alexis Wirtz, Joshua Sebree Ph.D., Donald Gaff Ph.D.

Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Symposium

The research conducted regards whether or not Native Americans understood how to create maple syrup before the influence of Europeans. Through the usage of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), the identity of different maple syrup organic residues within pottery can be determined.¹ These organic residues tell us more about Native American history and culture. An analysis of organic residues was performed on the following types of pottery: proof of concept and weathered (an analog of the proof of concept). Organic residues were able to be identified within the proof of concept but not in the weathered pottery. This research also …

X-Ray Crystallographic Analysis Of Quinoline N-Oxide And Isoquinoline N-Oxide With Zinc Halides, Nitrates, Perchlorates., Erin N. Groneck

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

We have worked to analyze the chemistry between aromatic N-oxides, Quinoline N-oxide and Isoquinoline N-oxide, with zinc halides, nitrates, and perchlorates by X-ray crystallography. These structures were formed by reaction of the aromatic N-oxides with an equivalent of the zinc halide, nitrate, or perchlorate. These N-oxides had been chosen due to being the focus of this study. We will present the crystallographic X-ray structures of the synthesized novel complexes of the N-oxides with either a zinc halide, zinc nitrate, and zinc perchlorate.

Temporal Changes And Possible Sources Of Dissolved Calcium Levels In Stream, River, And Lake Waters In Western Kentucky, Kelsie Meystedt

Scholars Week

ABSTRACT

Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) are an exotic and invasive mollusk that spread extensively over various rivers and lakes in the United States. These mussels are known for being notorious in their “biofouling” capabilities, costing the U.S. government billions of dollars in removal operations. Recently, zebra mussel colonies were found in Kentucky Lake possibly due to human activities increasing the salinity of today’s freshwater resources. The increase in salinity from human activities may have adversely affected the ecosystems and water supplies. The Specific aim of this study was to determine the temporal trend of dissolved calcium in Kentucky Lake …

Wastewater-Based Estimation Of Substances Discharged At The Rest Areas Along The State Highways In Kentucky, Katherine E. Gray, Eugene Shin, Tyler Whitt, Andrew Windhorst, Houston Hampton, Chris Delcher, Bikram Subedi

Posters-at-the-Capitol

The availability of licit and illicit stimulants and its adverse consequences on public health has emerged as a major drug threat to communities in the United States. Despite several drug-involved traffic incidents along the interstate highways, this report represents the first comprehensive and quantitative report of drugs discharged at the rest areas along the interstate highways. In this National Institute of Justice-funded study, the amount of several discharged drugs focusing on stimulants but also including opioids and prescription antipsychotics are being measured in raw wastewater collected from five rest areas and a truck servicing facility using a state-of-the-art mass …

Corrosion Prevention On Aluminum Alloy, Andrea Brenner

Symposium of Student Scholars

Aluminum alloy (Al-alloy) is a widely used metal in construction, aerospace, aviation, and other necessary fields due to its lightweight and tweakable properties. However, corrosion is inevitable on metals and alloys, and that causes millions of dollars of revenue loss every year. Therefore, we propose to research fabricating coating to prevent corrosion on Al-alloy. This study uses an iron-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and polyurethane (PU) based composite coating to prevent corrosion on the Al-alloy. The makeup of the composite material is changed by varying the percentage of MOF. In addition, a binder is also used to enhance the homogenization between …

Impact Of The Water Content In The Therapeutic Deep Eutectic Solvents, Noam Lewit, James Stewart, Oluseyi Olawuyi, Mohammed A. Halim

Symposium of Student Scholars

Deep eutectic solvent(s) (DES) are the new generation of greener and more sustainable solvents, formulated by the complex of hydrogen bond in the molecules. The solvents allow us to achieve a significantly lower freezing point compared to its components, an affordable formulation and a technology that is typically formulated to improve the bioavailability of a drug. In this research project, we synthesized an ibuprofen-menthol based therapeutic deep eutectic solvent and investigated how water content affects the structure and dynamics of the solvent. For synthesizing the ibuprofen-menthol DES, 2.0629 g of Ibuprofen and 4.6881 g of menthol were placed in a …

Analysis Of Kavalactones In Various Consumptive Kava Samples Using Gc-Ms, Stephanie O'Kon

Symposium of Student Scholars

Piper Methysticum, or Kava, is a plant native to the Pacific Islands and is used in various ceremonial and cultural aspects. In the United States, Kava has many dietary forms from sleep aids to mood boosters. The active ingredients found in Kava roots, kavalactones, give users psychoactive effects. However, there are concerns regarding toxicity and unknown safety consumption limits. There are six major kavalactones, and possibly more that have been reported, but not fully researched. The one of interest in this study is kavain. Different solvents, diethyl ether and acetone, have been used in extracting kavalactones from cut kava root. …

The Reactivity Of Metal Phosphites: Oxidative Rate Analysis, Jamie Kitchens

Symposium of Student Scholars

Phosphorous compounds are involved in many of the biomolecular processes deemed fundamental for life. DNA, ATP, and phospholipids are a few of the molecules where phosphates can be found in the body. Phosphates are geochemically characterized by their low solubility and poor reactivity. This has led to the investigation of reaction mechanisms that could lead to the formation of the phosphorous compounds found in organisms. The oxidation of phosphite into phosphate could be how phosphates were introduced to life, due to phosphites being more soluble and more reactive than phosphates. We will present the synthesis and oxidation reactivity of four …

Electrochemical And Spectroscopic Characterization Of Cerium Salts And Nanoceria Material, Emily Velarde, Wei Zhou

Symposium of Student Scholars

The nanoscale form of cerium oxide, nanoceria (nano-CeO_x), has drawn great attention in recent years in electrochemical, nanomaterial research and medicinal studies due to its antibacterial properties, UV absorption, and its biochemical function as possible radical scavenger. Many new synthesis methods have achieved uniform and biocompatible nanoceria particles, and our lab has created cerium oxide particles that shows UV/Vis. absorption and X-ray patterns similar to the commercial nanoceria and nanoceria made in other research laboratories with novel synthetic methods.

This study focuses on charactering and comparing electrochemical properties of cerium inorganic salts and synthesized nanoceria. Preliminary results …

Bioanalytical Determination Of Glucose Concentration In Sports Drinks Using Uv/Vis Spectroscopy, Laney Hedgeman, Brianna Bond

Symposium of Student Scholars

Abstract

The purpose of our project is to indirectly monitor the enzymatic activity of glucose oxidase as it reacts with the glucose present in sports drinks through the quantitative analysis of the generated ferricyanide. As glucose oxidase catalyzes the oxidation of beta-D-glucose in the presence of oxygen, D-glucono-1,5-lactone is produced along with hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide is used in a subsequent reaction with ferrocyanide catalyzed by horse radish peroxidase to produce water and the chromophore ferricyanide. This compound absorbs in the ultraviolet/visible spectrum at 420 nm, which can be quickly measured using Ultraviolet/Visible Spectroscopy. Since the molar ratio of …