Results & Discussions:

Each calibration solution was injected separately into the Gas Chromatographer
and the peaks recorded are on table 1.
Table 1. Standard % volume, Ethanol & 1-Propanol peak areas & Ethanol peak area/ 1Propanol peak area of the calibration solutions.

Standard %
Volume

Ethanol Peak Area

(EPA)

Propanol Peak Area

(PPA)

EPA/PPA

2%

118991

565455

0.210

4%

351850

986387

0.357

8%

554640

892037

0.622

16%

1142392

922593

1.238

Withthedataobtained,itwasdonethecalibrationgraphwheretheratioethanol:
propanolwasplottedagainstthevolumepercentageofethanol.
1.4
1.2

f(x) = 0.07x + 0.06

R = 1

1
0.8

Ethanol peak area/Propamol peak area

0.6
0.4
0.2
0

10 12 14 16 18

Percentage of ethanol

Figure1.Calibrationgraph

Then,each unknown sample was injected into the Gas Chromatographer

separately and the peaks recorded are on table 2.
Table2.Unknownsample,Ethanoland1Propanolpeakareas,Ethanolpeakarea/1Propanolpeak
areaandEthanol%volume.

Unknown
solution

Ethanol Peak Area

(EPA)

Propanol Peak Area

(PPA)

EPA/PPA

Spirit

457343

8929926

0.512

Wine

376282

903222

0.417

Beer

201032

967087

0.208

To obtain the volume percentage of ethanol in the unknowns

solutions, was used the line equation (y=mx+c) given by the
calibration graph where the variable x, which is the percentage of
ethanol, was isolated and replace the variable y, which
corresponds to the ratio ethanol: propanol, with the value found
experimentally.
y=0.0733x + 0.0592 (line equation given by the calibration graph)
Isolating the variable x: y-0.057=0.0733x
x = y - 0.057
0.0733
Now, replaced the y for the values obtained experimentally with
the unknown solutions.
Spirit: 0.512 0.057 = 6,2% of ethanol in the spirit solution
0.0733
Wine: 0.417 0.057 = 4,9% of ethanol in the wine solution
0.0733
Beer: 0.208 0.057 = 2.1% of ethanol in the beer solution
0.0733
Since the samples were diluted, the dilution factor for each solution
was found and the percentage of ethanol found for each solution
was multiplied by by it's own dilution factor.
Dilution factor = Final volume
Initial volume
% of ethanol in the unknown solution x Dilution factor = % of ethanol in
the sample

Spirit solution: 5mL of sample + 10mL of propanol stock solution +

10mL of distilled water.
DF = 25mL = 5
spirit sample
5mL

6,2% x 5 = 31% of ethanol in the

Wine solution: 10mL of sample + 10mL of propanol stock solution +

5mL distilled water.
DF = 25mL = 2.5
the wine sample
10mL

4.9% x 2.5 = 10.25% of ethanol in

Beer solution: 15mL of sample + 10mL of propanol stock solution

DF: 25mL = 1.6
the beer sample
15mL

2.1% x 1.6 = 3.36% of ethanol in

Table 3. Ethanol % volume of the unknowns before and after dilution.

Unknown solution
Spirit
Wine
Beer

Ethanol % volume
in the solution
6.2
4.9
2.1

Ethanol % volume
in the sample
31
10.25
3.36