Non-invasive optical quantification of methanol in bottled spirits

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Kritzinger, Ané, Dwapanyin, George O., Mouthaan, Ralf, Bruce, Graham D., Dholakia, Kishan
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Kritzinger, Ané
Dwapanyin, George O.
Mouthaan, Ralf
Bruce, Graham D.
Dholakia, Kishan
author_facet Kritzinger, Ané
Dwapanyin, George O.
Mouthaan, Ralf
Bruce, Graham D.
Dholakia, Kishan
contents Food and beverage contamination poses a persistent global threat. A prime example is the presence of methanol in counterfeit or illicit spirits, causing severe and often fatal poisoning worldwide. Rapid, non-destructive, and on-site screening methods capable of molecular analysis directly through commercial packaging are therefore urgently needed for quality control and consumer safety. Here, we introduce a non-invasive optical approach based on Raman spectroscopy that judiciously combines wavefront shaping with wavelength modulation to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and enable quantification of methanol in unopened bottled spirits. A limit of detection of 0.2% (v/v) methanol in 40% ethanol was achieved, well below the 2% (v/v) threshold for safe human consumption. This truly non-invasive method remains robust through coloured glass bottles, with calibration validated in a real spirit sample. By enabling through-container methanol detection, the technique offers a practical tool to protect consumers and streamline routine screening across the beverage supply chain. Moreover, this Raman geometry establishes a versatile platform for assessing authenticity, composition, and contaminants directly through packaging.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_06593
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Non-invasive optical quantification of methanol in bottled spirits
Kritzinger, Ané
Dwapanyin, George O.
Mouthaan, Ralf
Bruce, Graham D.
Dholakia, Kishan
Optics
Food and beverage contamination poses a persistent global threat. A prime example is the presence of methanol in counterfeit or illicit spirits, causing severe and often fatal poisoning worldwide. Rapid, non-destructive, and on-site screening methods capable of molecular analysis directly through commercial packaging are therefore urgently needed for quality control and consumer safety. Here, we introduce a non-invasive optical approach based on Raman spectroscopy that judiciously combines wavefront shaping with wavelength modulation to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and enable quantification of methanol in unopened bottled spirits. A limit of detection of 0.2% (v/v) methanol in 40% ethanol was achieved, well below the 2% (v/v) threshold for safe human consumption. This truly non-invasive method remains robust through coloured glass bottles, with calibration validated in a real spirit sample. By enabling through-container methanol detection, the technique offers a practical tool to protect consumers and streamline routine screening across the beverage supply chain. Moreover, this Raman geometry establishes a versatile platform for assessing authenticity, composition, and contaminants directly through packaging.
title Non-invasive optical quantification of methanol in bottled spirits
topic Optics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.06593