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An examination of polymers with C-O bonds, focusing on the spectra of polyvinyl alcohol, cellulose, starch, and copolymers.

The Infrared Spectra of Polymers, VI: Polymers With C-O Bonds

Our annual review of new products for atomic and molecular spectroscopy, including details by category and highlights of overarching trends.

2022 Review of Spectroscopic Instrumentation

Controlling methane is one of the highest-impact ways to reduce climate impacts, so its accurate measurement is essential. Spectroscopy offers valuable tools for this task.

Detecting Methane Emissions: How Spectroscopy is Contributing to Sustainability Efforts

Spray paint is often used by vandals for creating graffiti, as well as for criminals to leave signs, messages, and blots to conceal the left traces at the scene of their efforts. Rajinder Singh and his colleagues in the Department of Forensic Science at Punjabi University (Punjab, India) have used attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy for nondestructive analysis of 20 red spray paints of different manufacturers, which could possibly be encountered at a crime scene, particularly in case of vandalism. Singh spoke to Spectroscopy about the findings, and the paper that resulted from their efforts.

Chemometric Analysis on ATR-FT-IR Spectra of Spray Paint Samples for Forensic Purposes 

Epoxies are perhaps the most economically important functional group of polymers. We explain how to interpret their spectra.

The Infrared Spectra of Polymers V: Epoxies

High-performance instrumentation requires many critical components. We focus here on energy sources, lasers, and detectors.

A Survey of Basic Instrument Components Used in Spectroscopy, Part 1: Sources, Lasers, and Detectors

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to extraordinary developments of both testing methods and vaccines. Can spectroscopy play a role in next-generation testing for Covid and other pathogens?

Catching Covid: Rapid Spectroscopic Methods Show Promise

Many rubbery polymers contain C=C bonds, which means they are alkenes. Thus, we can identify natural and synthetic rubbers by examining the spectra of cis-, trans-, and tri-substituted alkenes.

The Infrared Spectra of Polymers IV: Rubbers

Jerome Workman Jr. serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Spectroscopy and is currently with Unity Scientific LLC. He is also an adjunct professor at Liberty University and U.S. National University. He can be reached at jworkman04@gsb.columbia.edu.

As forensic analysis continues to advance, such as in the understanding of source identification and analysis of trace quantities of bodily fluids, spectroscopic techniques and machine learning are playing a significant role. Igor K. Lednev, a chemistry professor at the University at Albany, SUNY, in Albany, New York, has been working in this field with his team. The analytical methods currently under investigation include Raman spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy, and advanced chemometric classification and analysis methods. We recently interviewed him about his work. 

Investigating Forensics Applications of Raman Spectroscopy, ATR FT-IR, and Chemometrics

Infrared (IR) spectroscopy can be used to distinguish the spectra of hydrocarbon polymers from one another.

Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy