[CH] Capsaicin Determination and Science Fair Project
George Nelson (70431.3065@compuserve.com)
Sat, 23 Jan 1999 00:07:31 -0500
Judy Howle asked for the name of equipment used for capsaicin measurement
and forwarded a set of questions from someone wanting to help their child
with a science fair project.
Simple high performance liquid chromatographs can probably be purchased
between $5,000 and $10,000 US. Add on the proportioning pumps for gradient
elution and ovens for column attemperation and the price goes up. I would
bet one so equipped with a data system and decent detectors may run as high
as $25,000 US. (Peanuts to a truly dedicated Chile-Head. ;-) ) The
solvent system does use acetonitrile which is somewhat toxic and hazardous.
The Chile-Heads home-page does have a complete, well-written summary of
one basic HPLC method. (Thanks Mike B., for putting it there - I owe you
one!) Seriously speaking, HPLC is probably out of the reach of most
science fair candidates unless they know someone in a lab with spare time
available on the instrument. (Good lu-u-uck!)
As for ASTM E-1083-88 the poster is "sure it involves scientific equipment
and procedures more complicated that what is available in the home." Maybe
not in the home, but some secondary schools should have balances capable of
weighing the amounts called out. They also would have a set of volumetric
flasks for the dilutions. Any glassware the school may have used for lead
or any other toxics should not be used, but then the school should have
supply catalogs and a connection with a supply house to get new, clean,
glassware that can be dedicated for use with food in short order. Any
heating can be done carefully on the stove, but the school should have a
hotplate, too. The vanillyl n-nonamide standard is a different story since
it burns like capsaicin, so you have to handle it carefully. I think Sigma
sells it for what would seem like a prince's ransom for the quantity you
get.
Long story short, the science fair project could involve something simple
as just checking people's responses to peppers and see how closely they
agree in rating them. Compare results when using the standard to not using
the standard. No expensive "toys" needed, the results would be interesting
and the experience of setting up a experiments and (in particular) using
human subjects would be valuable lessons.
George Nelson