Fluorescence of riboflavin in energy drinks.

How much riboflavin (vitamin B2) is present in energy drinks? You will use fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the concentration of a riboflavin both Rockstar (a common energy drink) and an energy drink of your choice. This requires that you understand how light is emitted by molecules. You will first create riboflavin standards and use fluorescence spectroscopy to construct a calibration curve. You will then use Beer’s law to quantify the amount of riboflavin in energy drinks. You will use your results to determine how many energy drinks you would need to consume to reach your recommended dietary allowance of riboflavin.

Learning Goals

Riboflavin is a common component in many different brands of energy drinks. Riboflavin, also known as vitamin B2, is a water-soluble B vitamin and an integral component of several coenzymes needed for cellular respiration. Riboflavin is also a fluorescent compound, which means that it emits light. In this experiment, you will exploit the fluorescence properties of riboflavin to quantify the amount of this compound in Rockstar and another energy drink of your choice. Riboflavin
Riboflavin is needed for normal bodily functions. It found in many common foods including milk, eggs, chicken, and spinach (see Table 1). It is an important precursor to two coenzymes (flavin adenine dinucleotide and flavin mononucleotide) that are involved in energy production and many other metabolic pathways. Riboflavin deficiency detrimentally effects these metabolic pathways and can even lead to preeclampsia in pregnant women.