Chemiluminescence during the oxidation of alcohols by permanganate: application to the determination of ethanol in gin

Chemiluminescence is observed during the oxidation of ethanol with potassium permanganate under very acidic conditions. Factors affecting the chemiluminescence signal are discussed. Based on this chemiluminescence reaction, a method for the determination of alcohol in gin was developed. The method, which has a detection limit of 0.3% (v/v) and a relative standard deviation of about 1% at 40.0% (v/v), was used in the determination of ethanol in three different brands of gin with no sample preparation.