CHED 218 |
| Caffeine is a strong, naturally occurring CNS stimulant found in certain fruits, leaves, beans and particular plant species throughout the world. It acts as a natural pesticide against insects and organisms that feed on them. Caffeine is added to a multitude of food products and is used extensively in over the counter pharmaceuticals. Although caffeine is metabolized in the liver and excreted by the kidney, it is toxic to certain mammals that cannot convert it to water-soluble metabolites. Little is known about the chemical transformation of caffeine in rivers, streams, lakes and environmental waste waters. The objective of this investigation was to determine the levels of caffeine in waste water processed at the Dos Rios treatment plant in Bexar County, Texas using GC-MS analysis. The Dos Rios water plant uses levels of caffeine as an indicator to determine if waste water is being lost and contaminating the surrounding water reservoirs. |
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Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Analytical Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, April 7, 2008 Morial Convention Center -- Hall A, Poster
Division of Chemical Education |