Determination of Alcohol in Botanical Extracts Using a Simple and Cost-Effective Oven-Based Assay

AbstractA simple assay for the estimation of ethanol concentration is essential during the extraction of bioactive compounds in botanical research. This study presents an assay developed to measure ethanol levels in different extracted samples. Utilizing the boiling point properties of ethanol in conjunction with a hot air oven, the method is capable of determining a minimum standard alcohol content of 2% by volume, with a precision of ± 0.5%. This technique proves particularly advantageous for identifying ethanol that may have been inadvertently collected alongside the target compounds during the extraction process. Furthermore, this assay has been demonstrated to be a cost-effective, simple and accurate means of determining ethanol concentration in unknown solutions.