Enigma: Failure to detect products of Ethanol oxidation

[HW Mueller]

How about using a vial with teflon lined cap (or other appropriate inert substance) instead of a Erlenmeyer? But why do any of this? My suggestion is: Do a thorough literature search at this point (Beilstein, Chemical Abstracts, internet), sooner or later you have to know what others did in relation anyway.

[Ron]

One thing that hasn't been considered as far as I can tell is biological activity. Although ethanol is used in hand sanitizers it does not kill all microbes, there are microbes out there that can and do metabolize ethanol. Where is the best place to find these microbes? In a location with lots of alcohol, aka food, around. Just something to think about, if this is true the volatile component of ethanol degradation could well be CO2.