Lloydminster Comprehensive High School Synchrotron Club - 2007 Beamtime Prize Winners

These grade twelve students proposed an experiment to study the taste of honey using synchrotron soft x-rays from the Spherical Grating Monochromator beamline with CLS staff Dr. Robert Blyth, Tom Regier, and Tracy Walker. Their proposal underwent a peer-reviewed process and was awarded one shift of beam time in March 2008.

Experiment Abstract:

Honey is an aqueous solution of multiple sugars produced by bees. It is possible to isolate honey samples from single floral sources, which create unique flavours, colours, viscosities, and aromas. The purpose of this experiment was to find the chemical cause of these variations. We used the soft x-ray Spherical Grating Monochromator beamline at the Canadian Light Source to study the aromatic components of mono-floral honey. High resolution carbon and oxygen k-edge scans were obtained from air-dried samples. Although the samples were macroscopically thick, we were able to obtain high quality NEXAFS electron yield. While only trace amounts of aromatic compounds would be expected to be present in such samples, significant variations were observed in the pi-structure of the carbon-edge scan. The oxygen-edge showed slight variations between samples, but they were not as pronounced as in the carbon-edge. In addition, we did a search for metals in the 270 – 1600 MeV range. Most metals were below the detection rate, but chromium was discovered in our samples.

See a French telecast about this group's research experience here: http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/Saskatchewan/Tele/Chroniques/synchrotronetudiants_29268.shtml

Follow Up:

Their experiment was so successful that the students were invited back to present their findings at the CLS Annual Users Meeting, and their research was received with great enthusiasm. They participated in the meeting’s poster session and earned an award for best poster amongst those submitted by graduate students and other synchrotron scientists. With the assistance of CLS staff, these students wrote a scientific paper detailing their experiment and results. Their work was submitted to a refereed journal and has been accepted for publishing!

Download Poster (2.77 MB)

	Three of a possible ten mono-floral honey samples in their experiment
A view of the team at work (from the office mezzanine)
	Analyzing the scans of various elements in the honey samples
Rapt attention to the first data appearing on screen
	The view of the sample (a thin film of honey on a metallic disk) in the beamline chamber with visible light viewable during alignment
Students comparing the spectra from their samples…
	…and enjoying themselves in the process!
Students accompanied by two teachers and two CLS staff
	Each student played a part in preparing for the Annual Users Meeting. Andrew presented their findings.
Posing in front of their poster at the Annual Users Meeting at TCU Place
	The Lloydminster Comprehensive SoB’s in their new lab coats

Students on the Beamlines (SoB) General Details:

• CLS requires attendance of at least one teacher supervisor at the annual Synchrotron Summer Workshop for Teachers
• NSERC PromoScience supplements travel and accommodations for participants
• Students must be 14 years of age or older to participate
• Contact Tracy Walker, Educational Outreach Co-ordinator, to discuss details at tracy.walker@lightsource.ca or (306) 657-3525

 

Last modified: 2009-01-30 16:01:28