Tea & Tech: Students amp up chemistry research with advanced spectrophotometer

Surely, no afternoon tea is complete without a sweet treat—but in Mercyhurst Chemistry Professor Clint Jones’ class, it’s not complete without a “Shimadzu UV-1900i spectrophotometer.”

As both a tea enthusiast and a scientist, Jones doesn’t just enjoy his tea—he studies it. Alongside student researchers, he investigates the chemical composition of different tea samples. One experiment involves extracting caffeine from brewed teas to measure their concentrations. Another focuses on polyphenols, plant-based compounds known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

“Our studies analyze these antioxidant compounds in tea brewed using traditional methods from various countries,” Jones explained.

What makes Jones' research unique is the traditional brewing. "A majority of antioxidant tea research involves using organic solvents and steeping the tea for long time periods,” he said. “We want to learn what consumers are actually getting in our studies."

At the heart of this research is the newly acquired Shimadzu UV-1900i spectrophotometer, funded by a $10,000 grant from the 2025 Pittsburgh Conference Memorial National College Grant and an additional $716.36 from the School of Natural Sciences, of which Jones is dean.

Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy is one of the most widely used analytical techniques in science, and Mercyhurst students gain real-world experience with the new instrument, which measures how much light a substance absorbs at different wavelengths. This helps scientists and researchers determine the concentration of substances in a solution, check for impurities, or analyze chemical properties.

The advanced instrument offers superior UV-Vis absorption measurements, a touchscreen interface, and high-resolution dual-beam optics that enhance accuracy and ease of use for students.

But tea is just one area of inquiry. Jones emphasized that the new technology expands research possibilities by enabling students to identify unknown compounds, determine concentrations, monitor reactions, and characterize substances with precision. For example, students synthesize a component used in sunscreens in the university’s organic chemistry labs. The new instrument enables them to measure the capability of the products to block harmful UV radiation.

Another research project involves measuring the light diffraction of synthetic opals made from polymer nanoparticles that Jones' research students synthesize in-house. In nature, opals are developed over many years and are essentially made of silica sand nanoparticles.

"We are creating new types of polymer nanoparticles to create opals in under two hours, and each of these produce different colors," Jones said.

Further, the spectrophotometer has broad implications for a wide range of Mercyhurst students. “More than 90 percent of our natural science graduates go on to pursue doctoral or professional degrees in pharmacy and medicine,” Jones said. “This technology enhances Chemistry and Biochemistry coursework, benefiting students across natural and health science programs.”

With cutting-edge tools and hands-on research opportunities, Mercyhurst is steeping its students in the future of scientific discovery.  

PHOTO: Chemistry Professor Dr. Clint Jones and student Madison Rogers use the chem lab’s advanced spectrophotometer to create new types of polymer nanoparticles that generate opals in under two hours.