Karen Esmonde-White

Several types of Raman spectroscopy, including Fourier transform (FT)–Raman and dispersive Raman, are well suited to examine and understand the fat compositional heterogeneity in solid foods, identify polymorph or crystallinity, and measure fatty acid saturation.

Key Issues: Sampling flexibility of Raman enables in-process analysis of solids, turbid media, liquids, and gases Large volumetric Raman provide representative sampling of heterogenous solids

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable process analytical technology (PAT) for many applications across multiple industries, as a result of its many advantages, such as molecular specificity, ability to be directly coupled to a reaction vessel, and compatibility with solids, liquids, gases, and turbid media.

Analytical quality control (AQC) is an established application of Raman spectroscopy in many industrial fields. The extension of Raman spectroscopy as an AQC method in hospital environments imparts the benefits of a noninvasive and nondestructive analysis. The literature in using Raman spectroscopy as an AQC method for chemotherapy preparation and anesthesia gas monitoring is reviewed. Future applications in tissue engineering and incorporating new Raman techniques into AQC are also discussed.

A novel approach in Raman spectroscopy enables bulk material analysis without the need for specialized equipment. Enhanced Raman reflection can be integrated into current processes using available instrumentation, enabling real-time process measurement and control.