Raman Spectroscopy

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Liquid pharmaceutical  production line © KamokamoZa - stock.adobe.com

Researchers from the University of Liege have demonstrated the potential of surface-enhanced transmission Raman spectroscopy (SETRS) for detecting impurities in pharmaceuticals. The study highlights SETRS’s superior sensitivity, precision, and efficiency in quantifying toxic impurities like 4-aminophenol (4-AP), offering a promising alternative to traditional methods.

Green Circuit Board with Glowing Lights. Generated with AI. | Image Credit: © Starkreal - stock.adobe.com.

Because there is a different Raman signature for each of the polymorphs as well as the contaminants, Raman microscopy is an ideal tool for analyzing the structure of these materials as well as identifying possible contaminants that would also interfere with performance.

In 2024, we launched multiple content series, covered major conferences, presented two awards, and continued our monthly Analytically Speaking episodes. Below, you'll find a selection of the most popular content from Spectroscopy over the past year.

This year-in-review showcases the standout technical articles, compelling interviews, and key news stories that defined the pages of Spectroscopy. In this year in review, the editors of Spectroscopy highlight some of the top published technical articles, interviews, and news content published.

Sir David McMurtry

The world of engineering and innovation mourns the loss of a towering figure with the passing of Sir David McMurtry, CBE, RDI, FREng, FRS, CEng, FIMechE, co-founder and Non-Executive Director of Renishaw. Known for his brilliance, humility, and groundbreaking contributions to metrology and manufacturing, McMurtry leaves a legacy that has profoundly shaped modern engineering.

The future portable and wearable technology © Nicolas - stock.adobe.com

The following is a summary of selected articles published recently in Spectroscopy on the subject of handheld, portable, and wearable spectrometers representing a variety of analytical techniques and applications. Here we take a closer look at the ever shrinking world of spectroscopy devices and how they are used. As spectrometers progress from bulky lab instruments to compact, portable, and even wearable devices, the future of spectroscopy is transforming dramatically. These advancements enable real-time, on-site analysis across diverse industries, from healthcare to environmental monitoring. This summary article explores cutting-edge developments in miniaturized spectrometers and their expanding range of practical applications.

Highlighting artificial intelligence and data analysis applications © Gophotograph - stock.adobe.com

Over the past two years Spectroscopy Magazine has increased our coverage of artificial intelligence (AI), deep learning (DL), and machine learning (ML) and the mathematical approaches relevant to the AI topic. In this article we summarize AI coverage and provide the reference links for a series of selected articles specifically examining these subjects. The resources highlighted in this overview article include those from the Analytically Speaking podcasts, the Chemometrics in Spectroscopy column, and various feature articles and news stories published in Spectroscopy. Here, we provide active links to each of the full articles or podcasts resident on the Spectroscopy website.

Spectroscopic Measurements of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Our Environment © trattieritratti - stock.adobe.com

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging contaminants requiring robust analytical techniques for identification and quantification in diverse environmental and biological matrices. This review highlights various spectroscopy methods, such as Raman, FT-IR, NIR, ICP-MS, Fluorescence, X-ray, and NMR detailing their methodologies, sample handling, and applications for characterizing MPs and NPs.

Microplastic debris floating in ocean water © Arsenii - stock.adobe.com

A novel method using fluorescence labeling and differential Raman spectroscopy claims to offer a more efficient, accurate approach to detect microplastics in seawater. Developed by researchers at the Ocean University of China, this method improves both the speed and precision of microplastic identification, addressing a key environmental issue affecting marine ecosystems.