Ethanol is a clear and colourless liquid used in food and alcoholic beverage processing and, in producing fuel, personal and household products. Also isopropanol is used as solvents in cosmetics and personal care products, paints, pharmaceuticals, food, inks etc. Both ethanol and isopropanol are used in alcohol-based hand sanitizers effective against many viral, bacterial and fungal infections.

Available alcohol estimation methods are either too expensive for small companies or demand skilled operation. Thus, an easy and highly sensitive colorimetric technique was developed to measure ethanol/isopropanol concentrations (v/v) in alcohol-water mixtures. A new BODIPY dye has been synthesized which is colourless in water, but after addition of ethanol/isopropanol, it develops cyan colour. The alcohol concentration can be measured very easily and precisely (±0.5%) by spectrophotometric method. Alcohol concentration can also be measured (±5%) easily by seeing the visible colour change by naked eyes.

1. Easy, cheap and highly sensitive (±0.5%).
2. Colorimetric assay can be detected by naked eyes.
3. Very low (few seconds) detection time.
4. Applicable for 0 to 100% (v/v) of ethanol/isopropanol in the mixtures.
5. Less sample requirement for testing (1-2 mL).
6. Applicable in presence of different additives like glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, colouring agents, fragrants etc.

1. Useful during production and quality control of alcohols in distilleries, wineries, breweries and refineries. Also useful in food and beverage processing, and in production of cosmetics, pharmaceutical etc.
2. Useful for the industries involved in production and quality control of alcohol based hand sanitizers.

Ethanol is a clear and colourless liquid used in food and alcoholic beverage processing and, in producing fuel, personal and household products. Also isopropanol (IPA) is used as solvents in cosmetics and personal care products, de-icers, paints and resins, pharmaceuticals, food, inks and adhesives. Both ethanol and isopropanol are used in alcohol-based hand sanitizers effective against many viral, bacterial, and fungal infections.

A new BODIPY dye has been synthesized for an easy and highly sensitive colorimetric technique to measure ethanol/isopropanol in alcohol-water mixtures. The dye is colourless in water, but after addition of ethanol/isopropanol, it develops cyan colour which is easily and precisely detectable by spectrophotometric method. The colour change is also easily visible by naked eyes. The sensor is applicable for detecting 0 to 100% (v/v) of ethanol/isopropanol in the mixtures with few seconds response time. The sensor will be useful during the production and quality control of the respective alcohols in distilleries, wineries and breweries and, also in quality control of hand sanitizers, alcoholic beverages, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals etc.

1. Easy, cheap and highly sensitive (±0.5%).
2. Colorimetric assay can be detected by naked eyes.
3. Very low (few seconds) detection time.
4. Applicable for 0 to 100% (v/v) of ethanol/isopropanol in the mixtures.
5. Less sample requirement for testing (1-2 mL).
6. Applicable in presence of different additives like glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, colouring agents, fragrants etc.

1. This method of measuring precise alcohol (both ethanol and isopropanol) concentration (v/v) will be useful during production and quality control of alcohols in distilleries, wineries, breweries and refineries. Also useful in food and beverage processing, and in production of cosmetics, pharmaceutical, etc.
2. It will be useful for the industries involved in production and quality control of alcohol based hand sanitizers.

a. Infrastructure Requirements

1. Small room (approximately 10-15 sq. Metre) with organic synthesis facility (Fumehood, working table, N₂/Ar gas supply, TLC plates, standard glass apparatus, lab coat, safety glass etc.)
2. Laboratory equipments (UV-Vis spectrophotometer, Rota evaporator, weighing balance etc.)

b. Statutory Requirements

1. Statutory clearances for safe handling of various acids, chemicals and a small-scale industrial registration is required.

c. Raw materials

1. All the raw materials required are freely available in the Indian market.

d. Manpower requirements

1. One experienced technician with Organic Chemistry background.