A Multicomponent UV Analysis of α- and β-Acids in Hops

A method is presented for the determination of α- and β-acids (humulones and lupulones) in a hops sample using a multicomponent UV spectroscopic analysis of a methanolic hop extract. When compared with standard methods, this lab can be considered “greener” because it uses smaller volumes of safer solvents (methanol instead of toluene). The data analysis for this lab is interesting because it relies on a three-component analysis, instead of the more common two-component analysis. This lab is educationally useful because it can be employed at any level, from a general introductory class up to an advanced instrumental class. The Supporting Information includes a lab procedure with instructor notes and an extensive math review that uses the hop system to introduce the student to Gaussian elimination, Gauss–Jordan elimination, matrix inversion, and matrix manipulation on TI calculators and in Excel.