Fabrication of Chromatographic Devices for Screening Cosmetics for Hydroquinone and Retinoic Acid as a Chemistry Project To Connect with the Community

• Published in: Journal of chemical education 2016-11, Vol.93 (11), p.1894-1899
• Main Authors: Rojanarata, Theerasak, Waewsa-nga, Kwanrutai, Muangchang, Thanawit, Ratanakreethakul, Pudinan, Plianwong, Samarwadee, Winotapun, Weerapath, Opanasopit, Praneet, Ngawhirunpat, Tanasait
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Chemistry; Chromatography; College Science; College Students; Community involvement; Community relations; Community service; Cosmetics; Cosmetology; Fabrication; Foreign Countries; Hydroquinone; Knowledge management; Laboratory Experiments; Organic chemistry; Pharmaceutical Education; Problem Solving; Program evaluation; Program Implementation; Research Problems; Retinoic acid; Science and Society; Science education; Screening; Skin; Student Developed Materials; Student Projects; Student Research; Students; Technology Transfer; Thailand; Undergraduate Students; Work Experience
• ISSN: 0021-9584; 1938-1328
• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.6b00272

This article demonstrates how a student research project could connect classroom and community. Using local citizens’ concerns about the adulteration of cosmetics by prohibited substances as a research problem, fifth-year pharmaceutical chemistry students were challenged to use their knowledge to create cost-effective and environmentally friendly chromatographic devices from easily obtainable materials. After validation of the procedure, the devices were utilized for screening skin-whitening and antiwrinkle cosmetic samples submitted to the faculty through the community service program for the screening of hydroquinone and retinoic acid. Coactivities such as delivery of health education to the community and program evaluation were also conducted by students to promote their community engagement and work experience in a real-world context. Furthermore, the knowledge gained from the project was passed on to younger students to illustrate in lectures and stimulate their interest in chemistry. The project was well-received and considered useful by the community since it addressed the real needs of the people, thereby helping to cross the line between the academic world and the real world and foster relationships between the university and the community.