Researchers develop laser technology to test drinks for methanol

Researchers at Adelaide University's Centre of Light for Life have pioneered a novel laser technology designed to detect methanol in beverages without breaching the seal of the bottle. This breakthrough offers a potential solution to methanol poisoning, a serious global health issue that tragically claimed the lives of Australian teenagers Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles in 2024 after they consumed tainted drinks in Laos.

Methanol, a toxic alcohol used in various industrial and household products, can be illegally added to alcoholic beverages or accidentally produced during poor-quality distillation. Its breakdown in the human body yields formaldehyde and formic acid, leading to severe poisoning. The new technology employs shaped lasers, creating a cone that penetrates the bottle while filtering out interference from the glass. By subtly altering the laser's wavelength during measurement, the system can identify even minute quantities of methanol.

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We make a cone shaping and this allows us to go through the bottle and we avoid all the signals coming from the glass of the bottle. Then we change the colour, or the wavelength of the laser slightly, while we're taking measurements, and this allows us to pick up very small amounts of the methanol that's inside of the bottle.

"We make a cone shaping and this allows us to go through the bottle and we avoid all the signals coming from the glass of the bottle," explained PhD candidate Ané Kritzinger. "Then we change the colour, or the wavelength of the laser slightly, while we're taking measurements, and this allows us to pick up very small amounts of the methanol that's inside of the bottle."

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When we make this handheld, this could be used for example in distilleries, at bars, at border control; anywhere, really.

The current gold standard for methanol detection, chromatography, requires opening the container and laboratory analysis. The researchers envision their laser technology, once miniaturized into a handheld device, offering a more practical and immediate solution. "When we make this handheld, this could be used for example in distilleries, at bars, at border control; anywhere, really," said Dr. Ralf Mouthaan, another researcher involved in the project. They believe this proactive approach can prevent exposure before drinks reach consumers, ensuring safety and potentially combating fraud in industries like wine and olive oil.

Ms. Kritzinger highlighted the potential for this technology to shift from a reactive to a proactive stance in public health. "Having a machine like this and really checking before it reaches customers whether it's safe to drink," she stated. The researchers are confident in the technology's simplicity and its potential for real-world implementation, aiming to make it an accessible tool for ensuring beverage safety.

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Having a machine like this and really checking before it reaches customers whether it's safe to drink.