SPECTROSCOPY 73
In an exclusive interview with EuroLab, Dr Adrian Knowles reveals the latest advances and new applications of Raman spectroscopy.
The rise of Raman R
aman spectroscopy is becoming much more accepted as a tool
for analytical and industrial testing. It offers several benefits to the user in the range of samples that can be analysed, the speed of analysis and, importantly, in the information content that the analysis can provide. Commenting on this evolution, Dr Adrian Knowles, Raman product manager for Horiba Scientific, states: “Raman spectroscopy can now offer value for money and a return on investment for the industrial lab that is superior to many other techniques, saving on analysis time and minimised consumables, even when compared to traditional techniques such as near-infrared (NIR) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.” Tis is an impressive set of advantages – which certainly goes some way to explaining why the end users are becoming so enamoured with this technique.
When it comes to particular applications of the technology, Knowles reveals that it is becoming popular in a variety of areas. “Raman is a extremely powerful and versatile technique and we are seeing the take-up of the technology in numerous different application areas,” he begins.
“Te key to success is to demonstrate the real-world benefits of this still young technique. Pharmaceutical analysis (content uniformity, troubleshooting and fake detection) is one common use, but it’s certainly not the limit. Nanomaterials (studying quality of batch production through to bio-toxicity), polymers (quality control, reaction troubleshooting),
“With a simple ‘one click’ process users can obtain a Raman analysis, search a database and obtain a real and validated answer in seconds.”
Dr Adrian Knowles Horiba Scientific
forensics, even mining and geology are all now seeing uses for the technology. And I fully expect to see this range of diverse applications grow even broader as the technology matures.”
Knowles believes that the technology vendors are playing a key role in enouraging the adoption of Raman. “Te new generation of instruments such as Horiba Scientific’s XploRA Plus and XploRA One has been vital to enabling this progress. Tese instruments offer a more cost- effective tool that is powerful and versatile enough to actually analyse the materials with speed and good limits of detection, but in a way that is simple to operate. Tey feature ‘one click’
operation and databases that provide real answers and not just spectra.”
Strengths of Raman in analytical testing Knowles suggests that Raman can be split into several types of analysis: micro-analysis; bulk macro analysis; and remote sampling. He comments: “Many lab-based instruments can offer all of these methods in a single platform, so the possibilities for users are almost limitless.
“For instance, the modern XploRA Plus Raman microscope has the ability to analyse discrete particles, thin layers or sample domains to the sub-micron level, thus it can really drill into a sample’s composition – combining the Raman chemical
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