Question

what benefits or disadvantages come from using Raman spectroscopy vs gas chromatography for determining the percent alcohol in alcoholic beverages?

Answer 1

Raman spectrometry –Advantages-

-Micro-Raman spectroscopy is used to detect and determine pure ethanol /methanol in human biological fluids(blood,urine) as this is a non-destructive technique and the sample can be re-used for further examination later.

-low cost and low expertise needed in performance.

Disadvantages-

-high cost of instrumentation

-high sensitivity as sample distillation and accurate weighing process are a pre-requisite or pre-treatment process

-only spectrophotometry is used for analysis and is relied on

-time consuming as calibration curves needs to be established that gives low accuracy as interference by other alcohol species in alcoholic beverages also could be present .

Gas chromatography

Advantages-

-GC method is considered to be the most appropriate and rapid method for determination of ethanol in alcoholic beverages with mixed alcohol contents

-small sample amount needed in the form of injection

-high resolution and sensitivity

-non-volatile impurities prevented from entering into GC column so moderate contamination obtained

-high detection limit