Senior chemistry major and mathematics minor Abbie Morgan recently presented her research on kombucha fermentation and analytical chemistry at the American Chemical Society’s (ACS) National Meeting in San Diego, California. Morgan tied in first place alongside two students from the University of California-Davis and the University of Massachusetts in the Division of Agriculture and Food Chemistry’s (AGFD) Undergraduate Student Poster Competition.
“Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage consisting of water, tea, sugar, and the SCOBY,” Morgan explained. “The SCOBY is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that initiates and sustains the fermentation process, which converts sugars into organic acids and ethanol.”
Morgan’s research focused on improving the accuracy and efficiency of analyzing kombucha’s main components – such as sugar, organic acids and ethanol. Her project evaluated the use of “benchtop nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy,” which is both accessible and efficient in comparison to traditional lab methods.
“My research showed that an analytical technique called benchtop NMR can quickly and simultaneously acquire this quantitative information with one instrument,” she said. “Traditional methods can therefore be replaced or supplemented using a benchtop NMR spectrometer, which becomes a one-stop shop for brewers to quickly and accurately measure the main components of kombucha.”
Morgan also examined how different brewing methods can impact the fermentation process, such as using glucose or fructose instead of sucrose and brewing in an air-permeable bag versus a glass jar. Through her and her team’s evaluations, they gained insight into how the SCOBY’s metabolism evolved during a 28-day brew cycle.
Her interest in analytical chemistry was the main reason why she chose to research kombucha. “I’ve always been fascinated by how analytical chemistry uses instrumentation to explore what we can’t see with the naked eye,” she said. “What inspired my interest in this project was the chance to apply analytical techniques to a real-world system like kombucha.”
“This research experience solidified my decision to pursue a PhD in analytical chemistry at the University of Florida,” she said. “I was fascinated by how NMR could be applied to solve real-world problems, and it sparked a strong interest in developing analytical methods that can have a practical impact.”
Morgan acknowledged her mentors and lab partner. “I’d like to acknowledge my research advisors, Dr. Jeb Kegerreis and Dr. John Richardson, and lab partner, Jaden Perrin, for supporting me and my research this year,” she said. She also thanked Shippensburg University, the James and Merry Jean Beres Research Endowment, through the SU Foundation, and the ACS AGFD for their financial support.
This research, along with the undergraduate research of Ship students Serena Fisher, Kelly Krebs, Samantha Krzyzaniak, Jaden Perrin, Madelyn Porter and Alivia Snyder, who also presented at the ACS was funded by the SU Undergraduate Research Grant program and the James and Merry Jean Beres Research Grant.
“Accompanying our senior research students to this national conference is a point of pride for the chemistry and biochemistry faculty. The faculty-student joint presentations represent the results of months of hard work in the laboratory,” said Dr. Allison Predecki, department chair and associate professor of Chemistry.
Morgan, alongside all the Ship undergraduate researchers that competed at ACS, exemplifies how research can pave the wave the way to success for students.
