Best of the Week: Peak Positions, Jeanette Grasselli Brown, ICP-MS for Raw Materials in Waste Streams
Spectroscopy published stories highlighting the work of Jeanette Grasselli Brown, as well as the latest analysis on spectral interpretation, atomic spectroscopy, and more.
This week, Spectroscopy published a variety of articles on the hottest topics in analytical spectroscopy and beyond. These articles highlight a wide range of spectroscopic techniques and application areas. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles, according to our readers and subscribers. Happy reading!
By Brian C. Smith
In our “IR Spectral Interpretation” column published in our April/May 2024 print issue, Smith reexamines the beginning and intermediate topics of infrared (IR) spectroscopy. He reviews the information that is contained in an IR spectrum, which includes peak positions, peak heights, and peak width, and how all these bits of information tell us about the structure and concentration of molecules in a sample (1).
Icons of Spectroscopy: An Interview with Jeanette Grasselli Brown, Part I
By Caroline Hroncich
Jeanette Grasselli Brown is undoubtedly an icon of spectroscopy. Her story is one of perseverance—forging a path for herself at a time where few women were able to get ahead in science. Grasselli Brown's expertise includes vibrational spectroscopy, combined instrumental techniques, computerized spectroscopy, process analysis and control, and environmental spectroscopy. Spectroscopy associate editorial director Caroline Hroncich sat down with Jeanette Grasselli Brown to talk about her career in spectroscopy.
She holds 13 honorary degrees, including an Honorary Doctor of Science degree from Ohio University, her alma mater. Grasselli Brown also holds one patent and has published 80 papers and nine books in the field of IR and Raman spectroscopy. She was the editor of the journal Vibrational Spectroscopy from 1989–1995 (2).
By Glenna Thomas
In our “Atomic Perspectives” column published in our April/May 2024 print issue, Thomas explores the current landscape of global critical raw materials (CRM) trends in research and the applications of atomic spectroscopy (AS), including inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES), and X-ray analytical techniques in their identification of diverse industrial and environmental media (3).
By Jerome Workman, Jr.
In this article, two distinct baseline correction methods, frequency-domain polynomial fitting, and time-domain molecular free induction decay (m-FID), are compared to determine which approach is more effective in reducing baseline errors in infrared absorption spectra (4).
Unveiling the Link Between Fatty Acids and Neurodegenerative Diseases
By Will Wetzel
Spectroscopy’s 2023 Emerging Leader in Molecular Spectroscopy award winner Dmitry Kurouski and his team recently explored the link between fatty acids and neurodegenerative diseases, examining the potential relationship between LCPUFAs and neurodegenerative diseases like diabetes type 2 and Parkinson's disease (5).
References
(1) Smith, B. C. Infrared Spectral Interpretation, In The Beginning I: The Meaning of Peak Positions, Heights, and Widths. Spectroscopy 2024, 39 (4), 18–24.
(2) Hroncich, C. Icons of Spectroscopy: An Interview with Jeanette Grasselli Brown, Part I. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/icons-of-spectroscopy-an-interview-with-jeanette-grasselli-brown-part-i (accessed 2024-05-09).
(3) Thomas, G. The Application of Atomic Spectroscopy Techniques in the Recovery of Critical Raw Materials from Industrial Waste Streams, Part I. Spectroscopy 2024, 39 (4), 8–11.
(4) Workman, Jr., J. Getting to the Bottom of Baseline: New Study Compares Approaches to Correcting Infrared Spectroscopy Artifacts. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/new-study-compares-approaches-to-correcting-infrared-spectroscopy-artifacts (accessed 2024-05-09).
(5) Wetzel, W. Unveiling the Link Between Fatty Acids and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/unveiling-the-link-between-fatty-acids-and-neurodegenerative-diseases (accessed 2024-05-09).
How Satellite-Based Spectroscopy is Transforming Inland Water Quality Monitoring
Published: April 29th 2025 | Updated: April 29th 2025New research highlights how remote satellite sensing technologies are changing the way scientists monitor inland water quality, offering powerful tools for tracking pollutants, analyzing ecological health, and supporting environmental policies across the globe.
Introduction to Satellite and Aerial Spectral Imaging Systems
April 28th 2025Modern remote sensing technologies have evolved from coarse-resolution multispectral sensors like MODIS and MERIS to high-resolution, multi-band systems such as Sentinel-2 MSI, Landsat OLI, and UAV-mounted spectrometers. These advancements provide greater spectral and spatial detail, enabling precise monitoring of environmental, agricultural, and land-use dynamics.
LIBS Illuminates the Hidden Health Risks of Indoor Welding and Soldering
April 23rd 2025A new dual-spectroscopy approach reveals real-time pollution threats in indoor workspaces. Chinese researchers have pioneered the use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and aerosol mass spectrometry to uncover and monitor harmful heavy metal and dust emissions from soldering and welding in real-time. These complementary tools offer a fast, accurate means to evaluate air quality threats in industrial and indoor environments—where people spend most of their time.
High-Speed Laser MS for Precise, Prep-Free Environmental Particle Tracking
April 21st 2025Scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated that a fast, laser-based mass spectrometry method—LA-ICP-TOF-MS—can accurately detect and identify airborne environmental particles, including toxic metal particles like ruthenium, without the need for complex sample preparation. The work offers a breakthrough in rapid, high-resolution analysis of environmental pollutants.
