Electrochemical Detection of Ethanol in Liquid Samples and Simulated Breath: Investigating Calibration, Selectivity, and Preconcentration
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Advances in miniaturized and point-of-care electrochemical sensors have expanded their applications in healthcare, environmental monitoring, and public safety. Consequently, it is important to study the principles of these technologies in an undergraduate setting. This experiment uses screen-printed electrodes for electrochemical detection of ethanol and introduces students to electrocatalysis, calibration curves, chemical interference, selectivity, and preconcentration. Students use cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry to make calibration curves and determine ethanol concentrations in ethanol standards and diluted beer and wine samples. Glucose interference is investigated, and a simulated breath experiment demonstrates how selecting breath as the analytical sample and condensing it can eliminate interference while simultaneously preconcentrating ethanol. The activity provides an opportunity to discuss blood alcohol concentration (BAC), breath alcohol concentration (BrAC), and modern alcohol-sensing technologies. This experiment is suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses in analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, and electrochemistry.
Source: ChemRxiv
Language: English
Subfield: Analytical Chemistry
Field: Chemistry
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7220867460