Authors


Brittany Handzo

Latest:

A Fingerprint in a Fingerprint: Raman Spectral Analysis of Pharmaceutical Ingredients

The significance of the smaller spectral region of the Raman spectrum, defined as the “fingerprint in the fingerprint” region, cannot be overstated when it comes to active pharmaceutical ingredient identity testing (API).


Benjamin A. Kuzma

Latest:

Coherent Raman Imaging for Assessing Cutaneous Pharmacokinetics: Advancements and Outlook

This article discusses coherent Raman imaging and how it can visualize and quantify cutaneous pharmacokinetics (PK).


Dawid Polanski

Latest:

Atline Analysis of Commercial Graphene Products with Raman Spectroscopy

Graphene exhibits special properties, such as high strength and high electrical and thermal conductivity and as such is highly desirable for key electronic components. A new Raman spectroscopy sampling technique has been applied to the characterization of batches of graphene that provides a simple, at-line method for obtaining key product data.



Paul N. Williams

Latest:

Energy Dispersive XRF in Soil Analysis for the Agrifood Sector

In the agrifood sector, soil sampling and analysis is a prerequisite for accurate fertilizer management and to monitor the accumulation of heavy metals in soils. In this study, energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used to analyze soils with variable textures (clay and sandy) and the percent recovery of elements was compared, as a measure of accuracy.


Yue Zhang

Latest:

Research on Coal Classification Method Based on Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy

A proposed solution is a coal species classification method that combines terahertz time-domain spectroscopy with machine learning - specifically, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). By using terahertz (THz) time-domain spectroscopy (TDS), the absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, and refractive index of each sample were obtained from lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite samples.


Robert Wethman

Latest:

Applications of Raman Spectroscopy in Solvent Distillation and Exchange During Early-Phase Chemical Synthesis

The case studies presented here successfully demonstrate the use of inline Raman spectroscopic analysis to estimate solvent content during the solvent exchange and distillation operations in the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients.


Yu Yan

Latest:

Stable Variable Selection Method and Comparison for Quantitative Analysis of Steels Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

In this work, a stable variable selection method based on variable stability correction (VSC) and modified iterative predictor weighting-partial least squares (mIPW-PLS) is proposed for the quantitative analysis of steel samples by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).


Velusamy Veerappan

Latest:

FT-IR Analysis of pH and Xylitol Driven Conformational Changes of Ovalbumin–Amide VI Band Study

This study uses Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy to analyze how the globular protein ovalbumin's secondary structures transition under varying pH conditions in the presence of the cosolvent xylitol, highlighting the role of noncovalent interactions in these conformational changes.


Kelsey DeWitt

Latest:

The Use of X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRD) and Vibrational Spectroscopic Techniques in the Analysis of Suspect Pharmaceutical Products

Here, we compare XRD and FT-IR for analysis of suspect counterfeit pharmaceuticals to determine how the techniques can be used in a complementary fashion.


Guy Ankonina

Latest:

A Comprehensive Study of WSe2 Crystals Using Correlated Raman, Photoluminescence (PL), Second Harmonic Generation (SHG), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) Imaging

Using confocal Raman imaging and other advanced measurement techniques, we study the localized strain characteristics of tungsten diselenide (WSe2), an important nanomaterial used for optoelectronic device applications.



Zhenqi Zhu

Latest:

Terahertz Spectral Investigation of L-Cysteine Hydrochloride and its Monohydrate

This new terahertz method provides a theoretical reference for studying the relationship between biomolecules and water.


Gerald Luckeneder

Latest:

In situ Raman Spectroscopy Monitors the Corrosion of Mild Steel in a Salt Fog Chamber

In this study, in situ Raman spectroscopy was used to detect the formation, growth, and evolution of corrosion inside a salt fog chamber. These results pave the way for monitoring the real-time observation of corrosion on metal surfaces.


Stephen Kolomyjec

Latest:

Applications of Micro X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy in Food and Agricultural Products

In recent years, advances in X-ray optics and detectors have enabled the commercialization of laboratory μXRF spectrometers with spot sizes of ~3 to 30 μm that are suitable for routine imaging of element localization, which was previously only available with scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDS). This new technique opens a variety of new μXRF applications in the food and agricultural sciences, which have the potential to provide researchers with valuable data that can enhance food safety, improve product consistency, and refine our understanding of the mechanisms of elemental uptake and homeostasis in agricultural crops. This month’s column takes a more detailed look at some of those application areas.


Zonghua Zhang

Latest:

Specific Recognition Technology of Infrared Absorption Spectra Based on Continuous Wavelet Decomposition

IR absorption spectroscopy technology can solve the problem of line aliasing in gas detection. Here, continuous wavelet transform was used in time-frequency analysis to improve spectral component identification and quantitative detection of gases.


Chanwoo Lee

Latest:

Evolution and Future of Raman Spectroscopy: Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

In celebration of Spectroscopy’s 35th Anniversary, leading spectroscopists discuss important issues and challenges in analytical spectroscopy.


Dan Zhu

Latest:

One-Step Green Synthesis of Functionalized Carbon Dots from Five Edible Mushrooms

This work shows the great potential of mushrooms as excellent raw materials in the development of multifunctional fluorescence carbon materials.


Deborah Peru

Latest:

MidIR Testing Reveals Supply Chain Mismanagement

This article shows the benefits and ease with which mid-infrared testing can reveal supply change mismanagement events and help to quickly identify and correct mishaps.


Chengtao Su

Latest:

Detection of the Early Fungal Infection of Citrus by Fourier Transform Near-Infrared Spectra

We examine the feasibility of FT-NIR for the detection of early fungal infections in citrus.


Hanin Athirah Harun

Latest:

Quantitative Analysis of Sodium in Aqueous Samples Using Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy with a Thermoelectric Cooler as the Sample Preparation Method

With this cooling system, which maintains the chemical composition and temperature of the frozen sample, a higher S/N was achieved for LIBS analysis of a NaCl solution.


Daniel Arnaiz Uceda

Latest:

Studying Inorganic Arsenic, Heavy Metals, and Iodine in Dried Seaweed

Seaweed has become a popular ingredient in Western diets. Concerns for heavy metals and inorganic arsenic have been raised as potential risks to consumers. Methods for analysis are described, including microwave digestion, HPLC, and ICP-MS for quantitation and speciation.


Stefan Radel

Latest:

In Situ Enhancement of Microplastic Raman Signals in Water Using Ultrasonic Capture

Of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging manufactured every year, approximately one-third ends up in the ocean, the air, and most foods and beverages. To monitor the proliferation of these plastics, an ultrasonic capture method is demonstrated that produces a 1500-fold enhancement of Raman signals of microplastics in water.


Liqing He

Latest:

High-Throughput Profiling of Long Chain Fatty Acids and Oxylipins by LC–MS

Long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) function as a source of metabolic energy, substrates for membrane biogenesis, and storage of metabolic energy. Oxylipins, oxygenated derivatives of LCFAs, regulate the activity of many cellular processes. Existing methods for the analysis of LCFAs and oxylipins have limited compound coverage and sensitivity that, therefore, prevent their application in biological studies. In this work, we developed a high-throughput LC–MS method for analysis of 51 LCFAs and oxylipins. LCFAs and oxylipins were first extracted from biological samples via solid-phase extraction. The extracted molecules were analyzed by targeted comparative metabolomics. Saturated and monounsaturated LCFAs were analyzed in single ion reaction mode, while polyunsaturated LCFAs and oxylipins were analyzed in multiple reaction monitoring mode. Using this method, we successfully quantified 31 LCFAs and oxylipins from mouse livers.


Anne van Klinken

Latest:

Spectral Sensing Using a Handheld NIR Module Based on a Fully Integrated Sensor Chip

A novel approach to NIR spectral sensing, using a miniaturized fully-integrated multipixel array of resonant-cavity-enhanced InGaAs photodetectors, enables sensors with a millimeter-scale footprint and wafer-scale fabrication. This multipixel sensor does not measure the full spectrum, but rather a limited number of spectral regions with limited resolution (50–100 nm).


Fang Ou

Latest:

Spectral Sensing Using a Handheld NIR Module Based on a Fully Integrated Sensor Chip

A novel approach to NIR spectral sensing, using a miniaturized fully-integrated multipixel array of resonant-cavity-enhanced InGaAs photodetectors, enables sensors with a millimeter-scale footprint and wafer-scale fabrication. This multipixel sensor does not measure the full spectrum, but rather a limited number of spectral regions with limited resolution (50–100 nm).


Yutao Huang

Latest:

Research on Hardness Detection Method of Polyvinyl Chloride Cable Sheath Material Based on Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Surface hardness is one of the most important parameters which describes the degree of aging in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) cables. In this work, the hardness of PVC sheathing material was studied using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).


Ning-ning Liu

Latest:

Study on Estimating Total Nitrogen Content in Sugar Beet Leaves Under Drip Irrigation Based on Vis-NIR Hyperspectral Data and Chlorophyll Content

The relationship between leaf nitrogen content (LNC) and hyperspectral remote sensing imagery (HYP) was determined to construct an estimation model of the LNC of drip-irrigated sugar beets, to enable real-time monitoring of sugar beet growth and nitrogen management in arid areas.


Li Zhong

Latest:

A Genetic Algorithm–Optimized Extreme Learning Machine Model for Process Ethylene Analysis Robustness Enhancement

Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) is combined with an extreme learning machine (ELM) model, tailored by genetic algorithm (GA) parameter searching, to produce a more robust analytical method for trace gas analysis of ethylene.


Maciej Bromirski

Latest:

Monitoring for Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl (PFAS) with Advanced Mass Spectrometry– Based Methods

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of potentially thousands of synthetic compounds that have long been used in the manufacture of a variety of common products with stain-repellent and nonstick properties. Their signature strong fluorine and carbon bonds make them difficult to break down and, as a result, they are among the most persistent of today’s environmental pollutants. Alarmingly, PFAS can be found in drinking water and have been shown to accumulate in the body with the potential to cause multiple health problems, such as hormone disruption and cancer. Advances in mass spectrometry have facilitated the detection of known PFAS contaminants as well as the identification of poorly studied and novel compounds in watersheds. This article explores the detection of known and novel PFAS contaminants in aqueous film-forming foams and raw drinking water sources in North Carolina, using new advances in mass spectrometry and data acquisition to improve identification and quantitation.