Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy

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Microplastics analysis just got easier: Analysis direct on-filter

North America: Wednesday, November 16, 2022 at 11am PST | 1pm CST | 2pm EST Europe: Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 11am BST | 12pm CET Asia: Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 10:30 IST | 1pm SGT | 2pm JST | 4pm AEST Fast, easy, and accurate analysis of microplastics is a key need of anyone with an interest in this area. With the capacity to conduct this analysis directly on the filter in the Agilent 8700 LDIR for microplastics, this analysis has now reached a new level.

The implementation of 120 open-path spectroscopy analyzers at oil refineries has taught us lessons about compound identification, target species detectability, interferences, and data management, which can help spectroscopists generate more accurate data when monitoring air quality.

We continue our survey of the infrared (IR) spectra of polymers with a look at the spectra of polymers that contain carbonyl or C=O bonds. Our long-term goal is to examine the spectra of polymers that contain ketone, carboxylic acid, ester, and carbonate linkages. Studying these spectra is vital, because these molecules are important economically and are ubiquitous in society.

aspirin pills spilling out of a bottle

In this study, the measured spectra of acetic anhydride, acetic acid, salicylic acid, and aspirin are used for in situ monitoring of the progression of aspirin synthesis in a reaction system. Traditional methods such as HPLC and titration ultraviolet (UV) absorption are not optimal for such real-time monitoring because of long analytical times and complicated procedures. ATR-FT-IR offers an alternative solution that overcomes the shortcomings of traditional techniques.

triclosan and the compound

Selecting the correct basis set is essential for enhancing accuracy of DFT simulations. Here, the effects of five basis sets on the theoretical frequencies and calculated infrared intensities are compared to predict the molecular structural and vibrational properties of the triclosan. The demonstrated methods can help provide a benchmark for studying the pollution mechanisms and ecological effects of antibacterial products like triclosan.

Professor Martin Zanni, the Meloche-Bascom Professor of Chemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his colleagues explored how to resolve diagonal peaks using a polarization scheme that can be implemented in pump-probe beam geometry—not only in two-dimensional infrared (2D-IR) spectroscopy but also in TA spectroscopy. Zanni is the 2022 recipient of the Ellis R. Lippincott Award. This interview is part of an ongoing series of interviews with the winners of awards that are presented at the annual SciX conference, which will be held this year from October 2 through October 7, in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.

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.

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.