FRESH PERPSECTIVES
Choosing the Right Raman Device
In order to ensure the right instrument is chosen to complement each unique production environment, a thorough evaluation process is required.
Users need to understand what they really need from their
Raman instrument and take a number of factors into consideration, such as: • Are my materials Raman-active? • Where else in the process can I use a new Raman instrument? • Will this instrument integrate with existing equipment?
• Will I need to change my existing processes to implement this new technology?
There are several points to consider during the decision-making process.
Raman is not just for Material Identifi cation There are many areas where the right portable or handheld Raman spectrometer can provide better workfl ow effi ciency in addition to streamlined raw material identifi cation.
Reliability, Accuracy and Optimal Sensitivity
Optimizing and monitoring instrument performance is key to ensuring reliable data. Two important components of a portable or handheld Raman instrument are the Grating and the Detector.
The instrument Grating
contributes to the overall optical resolution and signal effi ciency over a given spectral range. While refl ective-ruled gratings are very popular, holographic volume phase gratings provide a more uniform spectral response across the wavelength range and higher diff ractive effi ciency. Volume Phase Gratings (VPGs) are designed to provide up to 99 percent diff racting effi ciency and a large angular dispersion to maximize optical resolution. Choosing the right detector can help maximize signal-to-noise, while also maximizing resolution. A cooled InGaAs array detector reduces dark noise while enhancing the instrument’s dynamic operating range for long-term stability and reproducible results.
Conclusion For example, choosing an
instrument with an open architecture off ers additional capabilities. Users are able to closely monitor spectral peaks and reactions, overlay spectra to better identify contaminants and impurities, and/or perform both qualitative and quantitative analysis so that more data can be ascertained from spectral results, providing a stronger return on the investment.
Get the Best and Broadest Materials Coverage
Each manufacturer has a unique production environment and must analyze a variety of pharmaceutical materials, often in bulk and from various suppliers from around the world. Raman has become known for accurate performance when analyzing both solids and liquids through sealed packaging; however a thorough evaluation of your incoming materials may raise issues of fl uorescence when Raman spectroscopy is utilized which will interfere with achieving accurate results. The common laser wavelength options for Raman analysis has generally been 785nm (nanometer) and 1064nm, however, many manufacturers today are simply turning to 1064nm-only devices as these instruments have proven to perform accurate analysis on the broadest range of materials commonly- used in the production of pharmaceuticals.
The evolution of Raman instruments has certainly changed the landscape of the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. Just under a decade ago, skeptics questioned the viability of miniaturized spectroscopy and Raman was practically unheard of; nowadays, the technology experiences widespread adoption and acceptance by global regulatory enforcement agencies. Raman continues to grow as the technology of choice and is used by most of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers.
These global manufacturers are using Raman in its
most progressive form factor to improve workflow efficiencies while maintaining high quality and inspection standards. As with any cutting- edge technology, Raman spectroscopy delivers advantages that the industry cannot afford to go without.
The reality is – we are just scratching the surface with Raman’s capabilities. Not only are the uses of Raman expanding at a rapid pace, but instruments are also being further developed to include innovative features and workfl ow advancements, enabling broader application support to meet the needs of today’s manufacturer.
In the next fi ve years, we will see
Raman devices reach beyond traditional markets and move into exciting new areas, including the medical fi eld, where Raman lasers are currently being developed to help detect cancer during surgery. The possibilities are endless for Raman spectroscopy and the future is exciting.
60 American Pharmaceutical Review | Fresh Perspectives 2013
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