Catalytic fuel cell used as an analytical tool for methanol and ethanol determination. Application to ethanol determination in alcoholic beverages

Abstract

A small direct catalytic methanol 'fuel cell' was used for analytical purposes. Three different formats were investigated for methanol and ethanol determination: two different Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) formats and a potentiostatic (i.e. amperometric) format; the latter was used if the current supplied by the cell was recorded. The measurement times using one or other of these three formats were much different. The time required by the potentiostatic format was more short for a suitable analytical measurement. The cell was used to check ethanol content in several commercial wine and beer samples and the possibility of using the fuel cell for the analytical measures in real samples, discussed. Lastly the results were compared with those obtained using two conventional amperometric enzyme sensors and statistical tests carried out. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Study for developing an electronic tongue to discriminate three different classes of waters, by using common sensors and the principal component analysis

“…The hydrogen ions permeated the Nafion membrane and reacted with the oxygen to the cathodic section of the cell, giving water; this process generated a difference of potential between the anode and the cathode. To reduce the response time of the fuel cell, an immobilised enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) was introduced in the anodic section of the fuel cell (as described in detail in previous papers [16,17]). At present, we have not immobilised the enzyme inside the bag with a chemical method, even if this is of course possible and not too difficult [23], as it is enough to easy replace the exhausted enzyme in the bag, so that the enzyme resume to operate at its best.…”

“…At present, we have not immobilised the enzyme inside the bag with a chemical method, even if this is of course possible and not too difficult [23], as it is enough to easy replace the exhausted enzyme in the bag, so that the enzyme resume to operate at its best. It was recorded the supplied current (SC) of the fuel cell, at the optimised applied potential [16,17]. The measurement of the SC, at the steady state was read off and correlated with the alcohol concentration in the fuel cell [16,17].…”

“…The fuel cell frame was made in Plexiglas ® , while the electrode end plate was made in Pt-Ru black catalyst assembled with Nafion ™ membrane. For potentiostatic format measurement [16,17], Palmsens mod. EmStat potentiostat was used, connected to the fuel cell.…”

“…Furthermore, in the majority of these articles, chemometric methods for the elaboration of experimental measurements, have been used, classic [4,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] or quite complex [3,5,11]. The present research on the contrary was conducted using easy, but proved effective methodologies, more in particular have been employed: a glass potentiometric electrode for the pH measurement, an amperometric gaseous diffusion electrode (Clark type) for measuring the dissolved oxygen content, a temperature sensor and, finally, a sensor for measuring the concentration of alcoholic traces of ethanol (and methanol, if eventually present), that we have recently developed, consisting of a small enzymatic catalytic fuel cell for methanol and ethanol [16,17]. This latter type of sensor has been chosen by us because, the pollution from ethanol of natural waters, especially the groundwater, is now an increasingly sensitive problem.…”

Vibration Analysis of the Engine Using Biofuel Blends: A Review

“…The research using methanol fuels for vehicles has been widely used in recent decades. Tomassetti et al conducted experiments using methanol fuel [20]. Some researchers [6,[21][22][23][24][25]] performed a study on several different machines with different results as well.…”