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Howard Mark serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of 

 and runs a consulting service, Mark Electronics that provides assistance, training, and consultation in near-IR spectroscopy as well as custom hardware and software design and development.

Articles

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

2021 Review of New Spectroscopic Instrumentation

Jenni Briggs is with Aspectrics, Pleasanton, California.

For analysis of non-particulate solids, the diffuse reflection sampling technique may offer an easy, non-destructive method for mid-infrared measurements. Spectral results of a polypropylene face mask collected via diffuse reflection and attenuated total reflection (ATR) were compared.


Non-Destructive FT-IR Measurements via Diffuse Reflection Sampling

Tri-Range Applications of the Spectrum 3 Infrared Spectrometer



Confocal Raman microscopy is a powerful tool for analyzing the chemical composition of samples on the submicrometer scale. In the food industry, various ingredients, additives, and bio-polymers (such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, carbohydrates, or thickeners) are commonly used to optimize the texture or the flavor of food. The distribution and microstructure of the ingredients strongly influence the properties of the final product. Therefore, research and development, as well as quality control, require powerful analytical tools for studying the distribution of compounds in food. Raman imaging has proven to be an effective and versatile technique for food analysis (1,2).


Raman Imaging for the Analysis of Food Products

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.

This article provides a convenient summary of portable and handheld spectroscopy techniques, outlining the most prominent types of compact instruments for both atomic and molecular spectroscopy.

A Brief Survey of Handheld and Portable Instruments Used in Spectroscopy

Fran Adar is the Worldwide Raman Applications manager for Horiba Jobin Yvon.

Low frequency Raman scattering measurements can be used to predict
physical properties of polymers and the crystalline polymorphic form of
active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). These measurements are made by recording the Stokes and anti-Stokes side of the laser line with the laser centered on the detector. Spectra of polyethylene and linear alkanes were recorded down to 4 cm-1.

Very Low Frequency Measurements of Linear Alkanes

In general, many Raman measurements suffer from fluorescence, which forces the use of longer excitation wavelength (lower photon energy) lasers to prevent the fluorescence signal from overwhelming the Raman signal. However, this results in reduced sensitivity of low-cost silicon CCD detectors at higher wavenumbers, making it difficult (or impossible) to observe the “stretch” portion of the Raman spectra.

How Does Concatenation Enhance Raman Spectroscopy?

The Oxigraf state-of-the-art Oxygen Deficiency Monitor, the Model O2iM, is a responsive, accurate, and reliable safety monitor for oxygen displacement monitoring in quantum computer laboratory, MRI, NMR, and liquid nitrogen and helium storage facilities. Our reliable solid-state sensor does not require routine maintenance or factory calibration, and the O2iM is equipped with an automatic, programmable auto-calibration system. The system easily interfaces with alarm system and building management systems. 


Quantum Computer Helium Laboratory Oxygen Deficiency Monitor O2iM from Oxigraf

Markita Landry, the winner of the 2020 Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy Award, works at the intersection of single-molecule biophysics and nanomaterial-polymer science to develop new tools for understanding biological systems.

The 2020 Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy Award

This application note demonstrates determining the correct orientation of the polarizer for these measurements and illustrates the importance of polarized measurements in specific examples.
