Application Finder

This Application Note compares SPELEC RAMAN and a standard Raman instrument by analyzing their performance in measuring single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT).

An important aspect of collecting Raman data to make it comparable across instruments is correcting for the spectrometer’s relative intensity, since the relative response for each Raman spectrometer is unique. Standard reference materials (SRMs) are optical glasses that emit a broadband luminescence spectrum when illuminated with a Raman laser at a specific wavelength. This spectrum is applied as the spectral-intensity response correction for a specific instrument, to remove instrumental artefacts. The standard software for i-Raman series portable instruments, BWSpec, has functions for applying this instrument-specific correction. This technical note explains the relative intensity correction, and how to apply it using BWSpec software.

Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering or SERS is an anomalous enhancement of Raman scattering when molecules are adsorbed to gold or silver nanoparticles – this enhancement can be as large as 107. The advantage of SERS for the analytical chemist lies in its ability to detect analyte concentrations of parts per million and even parts per billion levels, while classical Raman is limited to parts per thousand. Metrohm Raman produces P-SERS assays in the form of nanoparticles printed onto substrates using inkjet technology. This method produces inexpensive test strips that exhibit exceptional stability and sensitivity. There are two markets that can be easily addressed with P-SERS: forensic analysisand food safety. This white paper explains the mechanism of SERS and how it can be applied to handheld Raman analysis with Metrohm Raman Mira systems.

The fundamentals of Raman instrumentation and spectroscopy are presented along with common applications of Raman.

Electrochemical Raman (EC-Raman) spectroscopy enhances comprehension of energy storage devices by tracking physicochemical changes. This note details EC-Raman findings during nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery charge and discharge simulations.

Low frequency Raman spectroscopy extends conventional Raman analysis by capturing vibrational modes down to 65 cm-1, enabling deeper insights into molecular structure, protein characterization, polymorph identification, and phase changes.

Research laboratories must expand their capabilities to routinely analyze candidate microplastics from environmental samples to determine their origin and help predict biological impacts. Spectroscopic techniques are well suited to polymer identification. Laboratory Raman spectroscopy is an alternative to confocal Raman microscopes and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopes for quick identification of polymer materials. Raman microscopy was used to identify very small microplastic particles in this Application Note.

Metrohm’s ST Raman technology enables fast, contactless identification of substances through opaque packaging, expanding safe, field-ready use of Raman spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy is used widely by law enforcement as a field screening tool due to its speed, selectivity and ease of use. The majority of materials can be identified by the Raman signature, as they exhibit sharp distinctive peaks serving as a molecular fingerprint. However, many street and real-world samples are dark in color and not pure. The dark color, often due to impurities, gives rise to fluorescence that interferes with the Raman measurement. One method to suppress the fluorescence of a sample and enhance the Raman activity / signal is by the use of Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS).

Raman instrumentation can use lasers of different laser excitation, giving the same Raman spectrum for a sample. This paper presents the specific strengths and weaknesses that different excitation wavelengths provide, allowing a user to optimize the measurement of different samples by their choice of Raman excitation laser wavelength.

This application highlights Metrohm’s XTR® technology to identify colored polymers by extracting the Raman signal from spectra with strong background fluorescence.

Portable Raman spectroscopy is an invaluable tool in the study of archaeological sites, allowing for in situ analysis which minimizes the impact of such studies on important cultural sites. The flexibility of the use of a fiber optic probe and tripod-mounted video microscope with a light weight instrument reduces the need for sampling, and increases the ability to make representative measurements over what can be very large sample areas. The information content of Raman spectroscopy aids in the understanding of the materials used in the construction and restoration of important archaeological sites, and in understanding the degradation that is occurring which should aid in preservation and restoration work.

A new Raman system design is presented that expands the applicability of Raman to See Through diffusely scattering media such as opaque packaging materials, as well as to measure the Raman spectrum and identify thermolabile, photolabile, or heterogeneous samples.

For SERS developers and end users of SERS for specific applications to investigate low concetation levels of compounds, the centerpiece of their technological platform must be a Raman setup that provides reliable lab grade performance and is affordable and portable, allowing them to tackle real world problems. The portable i-Raman Plus system coupled with a BAC151 video microscope sampling accessory provides an ideal setup. With the performance and flexibility of use with different laser spot size and power for SERS research.

Raman spectroscopy is suitable for rapid, nondestructive measurements of chocolate quality indicators (e.g., cocoa and sugar content) in various chocolate types.

Currently, there are no simple tests to identify counterfeit beer. This Application Note demonstrates the ability of i-Raman EX, the B&W Tek Laboratory Raman instrument with a 1064 nm laser, with principal component analysis (PCA) to distinguish between beers from different brewers and from a mixture of beers.

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable tool for the characterization of carbon nanomaterials due to its selectivity, speed, and ability to measure samples nondestructively. Carbon materials typically have simple Raman spectra, but they contain a wealth of information about internal microcrystalline structures in peak position, shape, and relative intensity.

Raman spectroscopy can easily monitor polymerization by tracking monomer consumption and polymer formation, providing a valuable tool for polymer manufacturers.

This Application Note documents the suitability of hand-held Raman spectrometers, e.g., the Mira M-1, for the identification and differentiation of salts such as carbonates, phosphates, and sulfates. The focus of the work was the rating of the influence of the cationic part and of the crystal water on the Raman spectroscopy identification of the salts.

This article demonstrates the utility of portable Raman spectroscopy as a versatile tool for process analytical technology (PAT) for raw material identification, in-situ monitoring of reactions in developing active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and for real-time process monitoring. Raw material identification is done for verification of starting materials as required by PIC/S and cGMP, and can be readily done with handheld Raman. Portable Raman systems allow users to make measurements to bring process understanding and also provide proof of concept for the Raman measurements to be implemented in pilot plants or large-scale production sites. For known reactions which are repetitively performed or for continuous online process monitoring of reactions, Raman provides a convenient solution for process understanding and the basis for process control.

At a crime scene, a police officer collects a fiber sample that may prove to be invaluable evidence in identifying a criminal or exonerating an innocent person. In recent years, Raman spectroscopy has been studied extensively for forensic fiber analysis because of the high selectivity of Raman signatures, non-destruction nature of the test, and the ability to conduct the analysis without any sample preparation. The Raman spectrum can be measured directly on fabrics or fibers mounted on glass slide with very little interference from the mounting resin or the glass.

Handheld Raman spectrometers are valued for their ability to provide onsite material identification in seconds. In the case of combination pharmaceuticals, a single tablet contains more than one active ingredient in different proportions. MIRA DS is uniquely capable of identifying multiple compounds in such tablets by using Raman to identify the major component and SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) for the minor component. This application describes quick, dual analysis of a prescription medication containing acetaminophen and hydrocodone. The application is easily extrapolated to the study of street drugs.

White paper about Raman spectroscopy and electrochemistry and their combination (electrochemical Raman).

Metrohm’s MIRA XTR handheld Raman spectrometer enables fast, reagent-free identification of phosphate species, enabling continuous monitoring of dynamic systems.

Handheld Raman spectroscopy enables rapid polymer masterbatch analysis, while Metrohm’s XTR® algorithm mitigates fluorescence interference for accurate additive identification.

Signal-to-noise ratio, spectrograph design, resolution of MIRA handheld Raman analyzers.

Raman spectroscopy with PLS modeling enables rapid, accurate, nondestructive quantification of the total phosphate content in solution with minimal sample preparation.

This Application Note describes the rapid and non-destructive identification of conventional organic solvents using hand-held Raman spectrometers. Measurements with the handheld Raman spectrometer Mira M-1 require no sample preparation and provide immediate and unambiguous results.

Raman spectroscopy offers a fast, nondestructive way to identify microorganisms and analyze metabolites directly from culture media, without complex genetic sequencing.

Raman spectroscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are proving to be invaluable tools in the field of biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. Raman systems are also being developed for molecular diagnostic testing to detect and measure human cancer biomarkers. This review highlights two applications realting to breast cancer and pancreatic cancer diagnosis together with examples of the use of Raman spectrometry in biomedical research areas such as the identification of bacterial infections, showing that Raman is an important part of the medical toolbox, as we continually strive to improve diagnostic techniques and bring a better health care system to patients.

The suitability and potential of Raman spectroscopy in forensics is widely known by forensic specialists who use it in the laboratory to identify a wide variety of compounds including explosives, drugs, paints, textile fibers and inks. However, the use of laboratory-grade Raman outside the laboratory, such as for in‐situ analysis at a crime scene, was something thought possible only in forensic‐fiction until just a few years ago. Fortunately, modern portable Raman spectrometers are commercially available, and their instrumental features are comparable to Raman lab‐ spectrometers.To prove this, some extraordinarily demanding and challenging applications, in which an in‐situ standoff identification of samples might be advisable, were tested.

Accurate analysis of complexing agents in galvanic baths is possible with inline Raman spectroscopy. This Application Note shows an example using a 2060 Raman Analyzer.

Edible oils comprise a significant portion of any diet, and they also have important roles in the production of foods, cosmetics, and skincare products. For these reasons, a convenient and accurate method for materials identification of a variety of fats and oils is highly desirable. Historically, authentication of fats and oils was performed through intensive laboratory techniques involving chromatographic methods. Here, Raman spectroscopy combined with Principle Component Analysis (PCA) has been used for materials identification with 16 different edible oils, with excellent results. Raman is an ideal technique for evaluation of fats, as carboncarbon double- and single-bonds give strong Raman signals. PCA analysis in combination with Raman spectroscopy is a powerful tool for qualification and verification of different fats and oils, as there are few visual differences between spectra of edible oils.

Law enforcement personnel, laboratory technicians, crime scene investigators and many others face a significant challenge for identification of materials in a forensic investigation.Traditionally, technicians used multiple forms of identification in order to collect results from various forms of forensic samples. Although certain technologies are ideal for precise laboratory identification, many technologies, such as Raman spectroscopy, can be successfully used for identification of multiple forensic sample types either directly in the field or in the lab. Raman spectroscopy is classified as a Category A analytical method by the Scientific Working Group for the Analysis of Seized Drugs (SWGDRUG; Version 7.1, 2016).

In this article portable Raman spectroscopy as an effective tool for at-line characterization of carbon black is presented. Raman spectroscopic analysis can be an effective test to characterize carbon black material, including the structural order.

TacticID-1064 ST is a handheld Raman device that can identify materials through paper, plastic, glass, and multilayer packaging, reducing exposure risks and eliminating the need to open containers.

Compared to potentiometric titration, Raman spectroscopy is a rapid, accurate, and reliable secondary method for estimating the amine value (AV) of epoxy hardeners.

Patented STRaman technology is a new Raman technique that can identify chemical species nondestructively beneath diffusely scattering packaging material such as plastics or tablet coatings.

Raman spectroscopy is a fast alternative method to detect phosphate and sulfate species in solution for optimized phosphorus fertilizer production and improved product quality.

Raman spectroscopy is a well suited spectroscopic technique for process development and control within development laboratories in chemical, pharmaceutical, and other industries. This article demonstrates the utility of portable Raman spectroscopy as a simple and versatile tool for in situ monitoring of reactions using univariate analysis techniques such as peak trending, as well as multivariate analysis approaches to predict the end point of chemical reactions.

Raman spectroscopy is used for material characterization by analyzing molecular or crystal symmetrical vibrations and rotations that are excited by a laser, and exhibit vibrations specific to the molecular bonds and crystal arrangements in the molecules. Raman technology is a valuable tool in distinguishing different polymorphs. Examples of portable Raman spectroscopy for identification of polymorphs and in monitoring the polymorphic transiton of citric acid and its hydrated form are presented.

This Application Note describes the Raman spectroscopy identification of sugars such as D-galactose, D-glucose, D-maltose, D-mannose, D-sorbitol, fructose, sucrose and inositol. Rapid and non-destructive determination takes place after a suitable spectrum database has been created. Measurements with the portable Raman spectrometer Mira M-1 require no sample preparation and provide immediate and unambiguous results.

This Process Application Note presents a method to accurately monitor lactic acid and glucose inside a bioreactor in «real-time» with the 2060 Raman Analyzer from Metrohm Process Analytics.

Portable Raman is used to quantify trigonelline, an alkaloid that contributes to the health benefits of some foods. A simple method to quantify the presence of diluted trigonelline in solutions using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy is described. Portable Raman is a tool that could be used in quality control of food items such as coffee and quinoa.

Quantitation of the functionalization of a water-soluble polymer was achieved using a portable Raman spectrometer. The Raman spectrum provides strong, unique bands for both the initial and fully reacted polymer. This enables development of a simple, robust quantitative analysis of the percent polymer functionalization. This method is now routinely used in a manufacturing plant's quality control laboratory.

Handheld Raman is used for raw material testing of different sample types and forms. The use of optimized sampling accessories enhances the utility of handheld Raman without compromising data quality or complicating testing.

Raman spectroscopy is a valuable tool to provide rapid, specific analysis for identification of raw materials, thus reducing the risk of using substandard or incorrect materials in manufacturing. The utility of handheld Raman increases productivity, and the ability to do full testing without creating bottlenecks in the production process. The integration of the Raman data into a company’s data management system provides a secure means of handling data and results, with reduced risk of transcription errors, and data loss.

Spectroelectrochemistry is a multi-response technique that provides electrochemical and spectroscopic information about a chemical system in a single experiment, i.e., it offers information from two different points of view. Raman spectroelectrochemistry could be considered as one of the best techniques for both the characterization and behavioral understanding of carbon nanotube films, as it has traditionally been used to obtain information about their oxidation-reduction processes as well as the vibrational structure. This application note describes how the SPELEC RAMAN is used to characterize single-walled carbon nanotubes by studying their electrochemical doping in aqueous solution as well as to evaluate their defect density.

Portable Raman is used to characterize the quality of diamond foils made by CVD processes.

The raw materials whey, sorbitol, stearic acid, and calcium phosphate dihydrate dibasic all show very distinctive, unique Raman signatures, which indicates that Raman spectroscopy is the ideal technology for identification of these materials. The PCA model-based method provides reliable specificity to successfully identify these nondestructively in plastc samples bags using the NanoRam.

Yaba, produced in Southeast Asia, is a popular drug of abuse and is actively targeted by police squads. Two strong and highly addictive stimulants make up Yaba: caffeine, which comprises up to 60% of each tablet, and methamphetamine at approximately 20%. Identifying these two active ingredients in different proportions in a colorful tablet with other excipients could be an analytical nightmare. With handheld Raman, bulk material identification is achieved in seconds onsite with simple point-and-shoot analysis. SERS (surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy) analysis is used to detect the minor component in mixtures without interference from fillers, dyes, and coatings. MIRA DS is uniquely capable of both analyses—Raman testing positively identifies caffeine in Yaba, while methamphetamine can be detected with SERS sampling. This application describes quick, dual analysis of Yaba tablets with MIRA DS.

Small, fast high-performance Raman spectrometers are now readily available. Three real-life Raman quantitative and semi-quantitative analysis applications are discussed. These applications showcase the versatility of Raman spectroscopy and the potential impact that it can make in various industries such as security, pharmaceutical, and plastics and polymers.

Urea in widely employed as a nitrogen-release fertilizer with more than 90 % of urea production destined for agricultural applications. Urea is also known to form complexes with fatty acids, which have been employed for separation of complex mixtures and purification processes. In this application note, we present the quantification of the concentration of urea in ethanol by Raman Spectroscopy and show how this method can be employed for determining the percentage of urea in a solid inclusion compound with stearic acid.

The principles and benefits of Raman are presented in terms of advances that make handheld Raman an integral tool for pharmaceutical manufacturers to comply with incoming material testing requirements. Examples of the NanoRam for positive identification of excipients including celluloses and sugars illustrate the selectivity of Raman.

Today's Raman instrumentation is faster, more rugged, and less expensive than in the past and the advances in component miniaturization have led to the design of portable devices with extremely high performance designed for field-based investigations. This study focuses on the use of handheld Raman spectroscopy for the characterization and identification of samples encountered in various application areas related to forensic science.

Solids used in road construction were analyzed with a hand-held Raman spectrometer. The materials examined are conventional pigments and resins, e.g., CaCO3, TiO2 and DEGALAN®. The measured spectra differ considerably from one another. In order to assess the main differences between the chemical structures, the peaks of the spectra were assigned to the functional groups that generated them.

Analytical Instrument Qualification (AIQ) according to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) ensures that instruments perform as intended and users may have confidence in data quality. As the Pharma industry adopts handheld Raman instruments for incoming materials identification and verification, producers of such systems must provide suitable calibration and validation routines. Upon completion of these tests, end users are assured that all measurements are in accordance with agreed standards at Metrohm Raman, we have sophisticated AIQ routines in place to confirm the quality of your results.

This Application Bulletin compares the unique focusing technology of the portable Metrohm Raman system "Mira" with conventional methods. The method described here is called Orbital Raster Scan (ORS). Experiments show the advantages of ORS technology, using determination and quantification of medicines as an example. It improves the reproducibility of the Raman signals from targeted, active, pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in effervescent, cold medicines. Shorter analysis times and an improved, consistent assignment of spectra of the known medicine with the help of a spectral library are further advantages of ORS technology.

The combination of Raman spectroscopy and vapor sorption techniques provides a comprehensive understanding of vapor-solid interactions of pharmaceutical materials as it relates to the structural properties.This paper investigates the in-situ monitoring of a moisture-induced polymorphic transformation (D-mannitol from delta to beta form) using a combined Raman-vapor sorption technique.

Boric acid is growing in demand for various industrial applications, but requires a more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly production process. This Application Note describes the performance of a Raman process analyzer (PTRam) when measuring low-concentration boric acid and sodium sulfate solutions (<100 mg/L) during boric acid production.

Correct identification of mineral phases in rock thin sections is essential to petrographic and petrologic analysis of rocks. Portable Raman coupled to an optical microscope gives chemical information along with the optical images to give a higher certainty of identification than traditionally used optical micropcopy alone.

Fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, is illegally distributed worldwide. Overdosing can be fatal, causing symptoms like stupor, pupil changes, cyanosis, and respiratory failure. Just 2 mg of fentanyl can be lethal, depending on factors like body size and past usage. Given its severe impact, identifying and detecting fentanyl is crucial, as it has become a major public health crisis. Combining electrochemical surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (EC-SERS) with screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) offers a fast, effective, and precise method for detecting fentanyl.

Handheld Raman solutions have improved the ability to do complete incoming raw material testing quickly without the need for sample preparation. The NanoRam handheld Raman contributes to increased quality testing with a cost-effective technology used at point of receipt, thus minimizing steps to material acceptance, giving a high return on investment (ROI).

Analytical methods to perform CU testing should ideally be fast, noninvasive and achieved with limited sample preparation. Recently, transmission near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and transmission Raman spectroscopy have both been explored as alternative methods for rapid and non-destructive on- and at-line CU testing with no sample preparation. Although quick and nondestructive, transmission NIR spectroscopy suffers from poor chemical selectivity and is sensitive to changes in the testing environment. Transmission Raman spectroscopy combined with chemometric modeling is quickly emerging as a valued technique for CU testing due to its high chemical specificity, which is particularly useful when dealing with complex pharmaceutical formulations that contain multiple components.

Today’s Raman instrumentation is faster, more rugged, and less expensive than previous instrumentation.The design of high performance, portable and handheld devices has introduced the technology to new application areas that were previously not possible with older, more cumbersome instruments. Handheld Raman instruments such as the NanoRam® from B&W Tek are well-suited for pharmaceutical applications such as the testing of raw materials, verification of final products and the identification of counterfeit drugs due to the technique’s extremely high molecular selectivity.

B&W Tek’s TacticID®-1064 is a field-ready handheld Raman system utilizing 1064-nm wavelength laser excitation. Designed for forensic analysis by safety personnel, first responders, and law enforcement personnel, the TacticID-1064 significantly reduces fluorescence, allowing users to identify tough street samples such as ecstasy tablets in a variety of colors and mixture forms.

Etching is a vital process in semiconductor fabrication, involving the chemical removal of layers from the wafer substrate. Strict quality control measures are necessary to determine acid etchant concentrations in mixed acid solutions (e.g., SPM, DSP, or DSP+), critical for optimizing etch rate, selectivity, and uniformity during multiple wafer etching steps. This application presents a method to measure sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide in etching baths simultaneously using Raman spectroscopy with the PTRam Analyzer from Metrohm Process Analytics.

The emergence of counterfeit prescription drugs has become a concern for the pharmaceutical industry. Because of the low concentrations of APIs found in pharmaceutical drugs, normal Raman spectroscopy is typically not sensitive enough to detect the API from the surface of a pill. In this study we develop a surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)-based approach to identify a low-dose of the API alprazolam in a Xanax tablet using a handheld Raman spectrometer. If no SERS peaks consistent with alprazolam are observed from a Xanax tablet, the pill is a suspected fake. The method demonstrates the power of SERS to quickly verify the presence of alprazolam in the tablet for anti-counterfeiting purposes.

The benefits of a TE-cooled spectrometer in Raman systems are discussed to deliver lower system noise over longer integration times, resulting in lower limits of detection.

Content uniformity of solid dosage forms can be done nondestructively at the process line using the QTRam portable transmission Raman system.

This e-book explains how Raman and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy enable rapid, nondestructive polymer analysis, ensuring high quality while reducing costs and waste.

Raman spectroscopy at 532 nm excitation is used to study the crystalline and amorphous content of mixed phase silicon films.

Edible oils are not only a major source of nutrition but also a key basic material in the food industry. Vegetable oils are increasingly important because of their high content in mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids in comparison with animal fats. In this application note, the main ingredients of olive oil, camellia oil, arachis oil, sunflower seed oil, and colza oil are analyzed using a portable Raman spectrometer combined with chemometrics software.

Carbon materials are a remarkable choice as electrode surfaces. They are not only cost-effective and chemically inert, but also have a low background current and a wide potential window. Physical and chemical properties of new carbon nanomaterials depend mainly on their structure, so their characterization is essential to choose the right material for different applications.Raman spectroscopy is a very attractive technique for this purpose, effortlessly distinguishing information about the bond structure of carbon materials, and, therefore, about their possible properties. DropSens screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) are low-cost, disposable devices, available with working electrodes fabricated in several carbon materials. This Application Note describes how their properties can be studied by Raman spectroscopy.

The NanoRam handheld Raman, with a TE-cooled spectrometer, and patented CleanLaze technology packaged in a small, touch-screen operating unit, delivers high quality raw material testing capabilities for pharmaceutical manufacturers.

The TacticID®-GP Plus has multiple measurement modes to support safety and security users. A-Mode allows the user to create library Raman or SERS spectra customizable for spectral search range and hit quality index (HQI) threshold. A-mode is of beneficial use to forensics laboratories that would like to utilize expansion of SERS detection of designer drugs specific to their geographical regions or for food safety in perspective markets. In this example, A-Mode is used to create a SERS library of melamine to easily detect the presence of melamine in infant formula using a single indicator peak.

An analytic chemist in your back pocket. A forensic laboratory in a suitcase. A HazMat team in the trunk of your car. First responders need all the help they can get when faced with potentially dangerous substances. Mira DS from Metrohm Raman is a sophisticated chemical analyzer that replaces the specialist with automation. The push of a button initiates proprietary Smart Acquire routines to optimize acquisition parameters and collect the highest quality spectra. These spectra are automatically subjected to library search and Mixture Matching routines capable of identifying up to three components of a mixture. When hazardous substances are detected, the user is alerted to immediate action with color-coded warnings.

The NanoRam is a state-of-the-art, handheld Raman spectrometer for the rapid identification of chemicals used in the pharmaceutical manufacturing process. It has been specifically designed for these applications and is fully compliant with all the major global regulatory, safety, and commercial testing agencies applicable to the pharmaceutical industry.

Raman spectroscopy is a quick nondestructive method for the direct identification of plastics. It can also be used for the analysis of flame retardants, lubricants and other additives. Coupled with chemometric software, quantitative and advanced qualitative analyses can be performed.

Acid throwing, a historical method for retribution against women, has become a modern threat of a different nature. Concentrated acids and other corrosive substances have emerged as modern tools of social violence. Aggressors use common plastic containers with openings that create a powerful directional spray, such as lemon juice squeeze bottles. Sulfuric and phosphoric acids were chosen for analysis here due to their highly corrosive nature- acid attacks in London most commonly use sulfuric, phosphoric, and nitric acids.2017 saw a remarkable number of acid attacks in the UK, with reported incidences averaging 2x a day. Detection and regulation of acids may contribute to prevention of this social scourge.

This application shows how to seamlessly transition from Metrohm’s NanoRam 785 to the newer MIRA P system, ensuring continuity in raw material identification (RMID).

Undeclared drugs in dietary supplements pose serious health risks. Metrohm’s SERS solutions enable fast, sensitive, on-site detection of adulterants without matrix interference

Norms and Standards 21 CFR Part 11 is the FDA rule relating to the use of electronic records and electronic signatures.Recognizing the increasing impact of electronic media on critical data in regulated environments, the FDA met with members of the pharmaceutical industry in the early 1990s. The pharmaceutical industry and the FDA were interested in how they could accommodate paperless record systems and ensure the reliability, trustworthiness, and integrity of electronic records.

Ternary mixtures of aqueous sugar solutions are measured and multivariate models of the concentration of analytes developed using BWIQ software.

Chemical manufacturing such as polyurethane production is characterized by a cost intensive production process combined with a negative ecological impact. These adverse effects can be significantly improved by using vibrational spectroscopy. This analytical technique can assist the operator of the plant to reduce costs and minimize the impact onthe environment as is demonstrated in the present white paper.

Stamps are cultural heritage objects that provide an invaluable amount of historical information. There is an increase of counterfeit historical inks and it is imperative that fraudulent stamps can be identified and removed from the market. The portable Raman i-Raman EX® with a 1064 nm laser is used because it minimizes the fluorescence of the ink. The i-Raman EX® also has the functionality of low laser power reduction down to 1% to prevent sample burning and the Raman video microscope system analyzes the smallest of details, which is imperative for cultural heritage analysis of an 1885 historical envelope.

Low sensitivity has limited the use of Raman spectroscopy as a detection method. However, the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect has improved its effectivity for analytical use. Aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and cytochrome c are analyzed by Raman spectroelectrochemistry as a proof of concept in this Application Note.

The RVM method requires only a few spectra to make a model and can be quickly developed on the NanoRam-1064. Multivariate analysis of the Raman spectra on handheld Raman instruments provides more robust methodologies for identifying samples.

Printable Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (P-SERS) silver substrates were used with Metrohm Raman’s Mira DS handheld Raman analyzer to successfully detect heroin in 18 crude street heroin samples. Detection of heroin with P-SERS was accomplished easily and very quickly, with minimal sample clean-up. Solvent studies were also implemented to determine the optimal solvent for crude sample extraction, with results included here.

It is widely accepted that prolonged exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds can have dire health effects. This has led to increased regulation of chromium-containing products and greater demand for technologies that can positively identify hexavalent chromium in potential matrices. These include paints, dyes, and primers, which can pose a problem for interrogation with Raman, as strongly colored materials often exhibit fluorescence when stimulated at 785 nm. Fluorescence can obscure the Raman signal and prevent positive identification. MIRA XTR DS provides all the functionality of handheld material ID with a new capability that selectively eXTRacts the Raman signal from fluorescent materials. Fluorescence rejection at 785 nm provides higher sensitivity and resolution than 1064 nm systems, as well as a much wider scope of applications amenable to Raman spectroscopy. MIRA XTR DS offers a comprehensive and versatile material ID test solution for field operations.

Raman spectroscopy is ideally suited to rapidly screen for methanol contamination in spirits.

This Application Note shows the rapid, non-destructive identification of isopropyl alcohol from two manufacturers using Raman spectroscopy following the creation of a suitable library. The measurements with the hand-held Raman spectrometer Mira M-1 require no sample preparation and provide immediate results that identify the samples unambiguously.

In this White Paper, you will learn about MIRA XTR DS – the smallest, smartest, most flexible handheld Raman system with the largest libraries available on the market! MIRA XTR DS has all the benefits of 785 nm Raman interrogation: compact size, low laser power, sample preservation, long battery lifetimes... now with fluorescence rejection. Additionally, there is improved sensitivity and resolution over 1064 nm systems. This opens up new possibilities for 785 nm Raman, including strongly colored materials, common excipients, illicit materials, and more.

Conventional Raman typically has a very small sampling area with a high power density (PD) at the laser focal point on the sample, which means that only a limited portion of a sample is measured, and the result tends to be irreproducible for heterogeneous sample. The high power density may also cause samples to heat up or burn. The large spot adaptor (LSA) for B&W Tek’s handheld Raman products, featuring a much larger sampling area of 4.5 mm in diameter, is designed to overcome these issues.

Like any defense and security professional, border agents must quickly and accurately identify suspicious substances at the point of contact. When that substance is fentanyl, which is deadly in microdoses, the stakes are even higher. The Mira DS handheld Raman system from Metrohm Raman offers safe, no-contact identification of over 200 fentanyl analogues. Mira DS protects border agents, while they protect citizens from deadly narcotics, drug smugglers, and illegal entry of goods.

Raman analysis of fentanyl-soaked paper, SERS detection range for fentanyl on paper, and real-world example of fentanyl identification.

Mercaptans in fuels are corrosive and regulated at trace levels. SERS enhances Raman signals to enable their accurate detection and quantification below standard LODs.

The TacticID®-1064 ST is a 1064 nm handheld Raman system designed for law enforcement officials, first responders, and customs and border protection officers for rapid field identification of illicit substances such as narcotics, explosives, and other suspicious materials.The TacticID-1064 ST is specially designed with see-through Raman functionality to measure materials through both transparent and opaque containers. These through-barrier measurements remove the need for active sampling of potentially dangerous compounds such as fentanyl, leading to safer operations and reduced wait time for clear results.

SERS (Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering) detection of a toxic dye (Sudan 1) used to adulterate saffron demonstrates the power of MISA (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) for simple, portable food authentication in this Application Note.

EC-SERS enhances Raman sensitivity using electrochemically activated gold SPEs, enabling rapid, simplified pesticide detection without complex prep or instrumentation.

In this note, we use a model drug, acetaminophen, to demonstrate the capability of QTRam® to quantify low concentrations of API in compressed tablets.QTRam® is a compact transmission Raman analyzer designed specifically for content uniformity analysis of pharmaceuticals in solid dosage forms.

This application note presents the Orbital Raster Scan (ORS) technology from Metrohm Raman to overcome low resolution, poor sensitivity, and sample degradation while still interrogating a large sample area.

Metrohm Raman presents a unique handheld materials identification system designed to meet the needs of defense and security professionals. Meet Mira DS, the most adaptable Raman analyzer available today. Mira DS was developed directly in response to requests from first responders in the field for a small, rugged, automated materialsidentification system that ensures the safety of the user in any situation.

In this Application Note, MISA (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) from Metrohm Raman excels in the detection of the pesticide acetamiprid on commercially sold raisins. MISA is a viable alternative to analytical laboratory testing in the quest to prevent contaminated foods from reaching and harming consumers.

Allowing non-destructive chemical identification through opaque materials, award-winning STRam represents an evolution in Raman technology.

The two most common mathematical representations used with handheld Raman spectroscopy as decision-making tools for spectroscopic data: Hit Quality Index (HQI) and significance level (p-value) are presented.

Identification of unknown materials in the field can be a complicated affair, especially in critical situations, where speed, safety, and ease-of-operation are essential. Mira DS, Metrohm Raman’s handheld Raman analyzer, and the intelligent Universal Attachment (iUA) give the user automated Content ID capabilities. Content ID achieves through container identification of unknown materials quickly, easily, and safely.

Detection of threatening materials requires robust and sophisticated instruments capable of safe, instantaneous field-analysis of unknowns. In an environment where there is an ever-evolving threat of explosives made from commonlyavailable chemicals, explosive libraries must be customized constantly to include newly targeted materials. Mira DS from Metrohm Raman is the perfect solution for detection of explosives in the field. This handheld Raman instrument is equipped with sophisticated analysis algorithms and a suite of safety features for first responders who need the identity of a potential hazard... NOW! Mira DS and its software can be customized to respond to emerging hazards: this note describes procedures for creating custom libraries of binary explosive precursors to be used in library comparison and mixture matching routines on Mira DS. With these tools, unknown substances can be identified with color-coded warnings for fast action in critical situations.

This white paper differentiates between methods for identification of unknowns and verification of known materials. The goal of this publication is, ultimately, to inform the user of the capabilities of the handheld Metrohm Raman Mira P system. Best practices for building robust training sets for materials verification with Mira P can also be found here.

Modern recreational use of DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine) is growing and although it is legally protected in some countries, new legislation attempts to reduce its abuse and associated adverse health effects. MIRA XTR DS from Metrohm Raman provides rapid and sensitive detection of DMT in the field.

Raman spectrometers use tightly focused beams to produce high resolution spectra, but fail at analyzing heterogeneous substances because they cannot spatially target all components. ORSTM (Orbital Raster Scan) increases the interrogation area on a sample while maintaining high spectral resolution. Effervescent cold medicines, for example, contain many active ingredients in each heterogeneous tablet. Traditional identification and verification techniques require the collection of several spectra at different points on the tablet. Mira spectrometers equipped with ORS capture a large interrogation area in a very short time, analyzing all of the ingredients in a single scan.

Botanicals are derived from plant materials and used for their medicinal and therapeutic properties in the nutraceuticals market. They are not as heavily regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) like the pharmaceuticals drug market, but they are required to follow Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP Requirements).The NanoRam®-1064 is an asset for pharmaceutical identity testing, minimizing fluorescence generated by typical handheld Raman systems with 785 nm lasers. As such, the NanoRam®-1064 is used here to identify botanicals that would normally fluoresce with a 785 nm laser.

Forensics testing of samples encountered by law enforcement and customs agents is based on analytical techniques that are now being miniaturized and simplified and are making their way into field instrumentation. Field testing with Raman spectroscopy allows users to conduct reliable measurements at the point of arrest, reducing the burden on crime labs and accelerating the prosecution process.

Substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) are typically fabricated with complex (micro/nano)structures of noble metals, enabling trace level detection of analytes. Due to the high costs and reactivity of these SERS substrates, they often have a limited shelf life. Development of new substrate materials which minimize these issues yet maintain the same performance standards is a constant concern.Screen-printed electrodes can be easily fabricated using different metallic materials with the well-established screen-printing method, leading to mass production of versatile, cost-effective, and disposable devices. In this Application Note, the feasibility of using readily-available screen-printed metal electrodes as suitable substrates for the fast and sensitive detection of different chemical species by in situ electrochemical SERS (EC-SERS) is shown.

Producers of generic brands offer cosmetics, medicines and other goods in competition with name brands, often at a lower price point. This lower cost may reflect a lack of research, development, and advertising costs, but should never imply lower quality, especially in the case of over-the-counter drugs. As an example, Equate (a Walmart brand) effervescent cold tablets promise customers the same active ingredients in the same proportions and with identical effectiveness as Alka-Seltzer, at a much lower price. This Application Note demonstrates that Raman spectroscopy can successfully verify that these competing cold tablets are not identical. The process of ingredient verification involves a p- test, which measures the acceptable variability of a sample spectrum, as compared to a representative training set.

Handheld Raman is ever evolving. The combination of large libraries, a compact and easy-to-use system, and predictive Hazmat software make MIRA DS a powerful tool for defense and security professionals. Identify on-site materials, get hazard information, and make quick decisions about response to dangerous situations.

Cellulose is a common naturally-derived raw excipient found in the majority of pharmaceutical products. Raw material testing is required to ensure that consumers are receiving quality cellulose and its derivatives. The NanoRam®-1064 is an asset for pharmaceutical identity testing, minimizing fluorescence generated by typical handheld Raman systems with 785 nm lasers. As such, the NanoRam®-1064 is used here to identify cellulose derivatives that would normally fluoresce with a 785 nm laser.

Determination of the identity and purity of ingredients is essential for the product quality of functional foods (neutraceuticals) and cosmetics. It prevents the utilization of inferior substances in the production process and thus avoids expensive delays and out-of-spec products. This Application Note describes the identification and checking of fatty acids in functional foods and cosmetics using the Metrohm Instant Raman Analyzer MIRA P.

100% starting materials identification testing is one of the FDA’s directives as per 211.84 for FDA regulated industries such as Pharmaceutical, Vaccines, Cosmetics, Tobacco, Animal veterinary products, Food, etc. STRam®-1064 is a Raman analyzer uniquely suited for this purpose. It measures samples through thick packaging materials such as plastics, multilayer kraft paper sacks, and HDPE containers. A long wavelength laser is used to suppress fluorescence. The ID algorithm isolates the sample signature by subtracting that of the packaging material and compares that with library spectra to achieve identification.

A person suspected of possessing a narcotic can be charged with a crime only after the identity of the illicit substanceis confirmed. This confirmation is typically provided by analytical chemists in forensic laboratories and requires highly technical separation and detection methods. Unfortunately, such labs often have deep caseloads that lead to delays in testing. Handheld Raman analyzers bring the reliability and accuracy of lab analysis to first responders in the field, allowing for rapid and accurate identification of street drugs with a white powder appearance. With such tools, demand for forensic analysis can be reduced and enforcement agencies can enforce drug policies with greater safety, speed, and precision.

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is one of the most promising ICPs due to its high conductivity, electrochemical stability, catalytic properties, high insolubility in almost all common solvents and interesting electrochromic properties (transparent in the doped state and colored in the neutral state). In this Application Note, PEDOT film is evaluated by spectroelectrochemical techniques.

Electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and spectroelectrochemistry (SEC) are widely used techniques in many fields. However, the data curves obtained from these analyses are quite varied, and not all electrochemical peaks and spectroscopic bands can be measured with the same procedures. This Application Note examines four tools included in the DropView 8400 and DropView SPELEC softwares to facilitate the measurement and analysis of the collected curves and data. The following measurement options are explained in detail: automeasurement, set on curve measurement, set free measurement, and set step measurement.

In this case study, a suspected counterfeit Adderall pill was measured directly with a TacticID Mobile using a point-and-shoot adapter. The spectra of the suspected couterfeit pill was found to contain cellulose and caffeine, but not the active ingredient. The TacticiD Mobile with 1064-nm laser excitation provides fluorescence suppression, giving those on the front lines a tool in the fight against dangerous counterfeit drugs.

With MISA and MIRA, easy-to-use test kits and flexible sampling allow rapid and accurate interrogation of suspect materials with minimal time, training, and expense.

This Application Note explains how to scale MIRA P usage across an entire manufacturing operation by transferring models between different MIRA P instruments.

Brilliant Blue (BB) FCF, more commonly known as FD&C Blue #1, is the most commonly used blue dye worldwide for food and beverages. It is generally accepted as safe and non-toxic. Aside from foods labelled as organic or as free from artificial dyes, there is little objection to the use of BB at levels at or exceeding 100 μg/g in foods.This application for Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) is unique. The benefit is twofold — successful detection of a fluorescent dye, and a unique sample cleanup technique that permits detection of a target that does not exhibit a strong SERS signal and is present in a complex matrix. While Misa successfully detects BB in direct sampling, this application describes a simple extraction method that improves detectability of BB with Misa.

Material verification models with complex algorithms such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), quasi-infinite parameters, and preprocessing options can be incredibly complex. Each model must be rigorously built, evaluated, and validated before it can be put into routine use. Mira P simplifies material verification for all. With a short, defined user workflow, straightforward results, and a foolproof Operating Procedure-based design, Mira P is already one of the simplest RMID tools available. ModelExpert, in Mira Cal P, does a chemometrician’s work. ModelExpert automatically determines the best model parameters for robust method development. With Mira P and ModelExpert, even non-technical users can achieve better results in a fraction of the time.

Potassium ferrocyanide (KFC) is an anti-caking compound added to table salt. Although this is a common non-toxic food additive, its spectroscopic response is representative of analogous cyanide compounds. Trace detection of other cyanides in food products is essential to the safety of consumers, as they can be toxic at oral consumption levels as low as 20 μg/g.This application demonstrates rapid trace analysis of potassium ferrocyanide in table salt with Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer), in a simple assay format with minimal use of laboratory reagents.

Thiram is used extensively as a fungicide and parasiticide to prevent disease in crops and as an animal repellent to protect trees and ornamental plants. However, extensive toxicological studies conclude that chronic, high-level exposure can cause considerable organ damage to land and aquatic species. The US defines maximum residue limits that vary for different food crops. In contrast, the EU recently banned thiram and is moving to use pesticides that carry reduced health risks.Using Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer), low level detection of thiram on apples is achieved with guided workflows adapted for use by diverse testers.

Metanil yellow (MY) is an azo dye used in the manufacture of external-use products such as textiles; however, it is prohibited from use as a food additive in many countries. Toxicology studies demonstrate that ingestion of MY results in significant neurological and multi-organ damage. Despite these hazards, MY is commonly used as an illicit colorant for enhancing the visual appeal of spices and legumes, most notably turmeric. Ideal tests for such food adulterants feature methods that are selective and sensitive, yet portable and convenient.Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) achieves rapid and accurate detection of MY in a facile assay format.

Alamar Blue is monitored with fluorescence spectroelectrochemistry during its irreversible reduction to resorufin and further reversible reduction to dihydroresorufin.

Polyurethanes are a class of synthetic polymers formed by reacting liquid di/polyisocyanates and polyols with a catalyst and various additives in a reactor. Polymer properties are modified with stepwise additions of these chemicals at different points in time depending on whether the process has reached an equilibrium. NCO functional groups from unreacted isocyanates must be quenched at the end for a finished product, and this parameter must be known to determine the proper chemical mixing ratio. A fast, non-destructive real-time measurement of %NCO can be obtained by using NIR spectroscopy with a probe seated directly in the reactor.

Fiber-optic cables are marvels of innovation for modern spectroscopic instrumentation. The advantages offered by fiber optical cable-based sampling include great flexibility for enabling measurements at various sample sites, ease of use, and flexibility for easy transportation. With this freedom however comes increased responsibility for care and maintenance of the associated fiber accessories to ensure the measurement quality and fiber durability.

This Application Note shows the transfer of near-infrared spectroscopy analysis methods from the FOSS NIRSystems System II (5000/6500) Analyzer to the Metrohm NIRS XDS und DS2500 Analyzers. In addition, the advantages of the new NIRS XDS and DS2500 analyzers with extended spectral range and improved resolution are displayed, in particular with respect to the FOSS NIRSystems System II analyzer.

This White Paper compares the two most commonly used technologies in near-infrared spectroscopy: Predispersive monochromator technology and Fourier transformation technology. In addition to measurement speeds and captured spectral ranges, the noise levels and the signal-noise ratios associated with them are also contrasted with one another.

Data Integrity is currently a hot topic issue that has created much attention and has raised concern within companies working in regulated environments. This White Paper explains some of the key terms used in the context of Data Integrity and outlines how the requirements of Data Integrity can be understood and implemented.

Visible Near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy is a valuable chemical analysis tool that can be used to determine quality parameters of hair creams. A qualitative method was developed in order to allow a fast out-of-spec analyses of an active antibacterial ingredient.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used as an analysis method for quality control of hair spray samples. A model for an active ingredient within hair sprays was developed, enabling fast and reliable out-of-specification analyses.

This Application Note describes the determination of copolymer levels in polyethylene (PE) and polyvinylacetate (PVA) pellets using NIRS. The determination of the composition of the polymer blends takes less than 30 seconds and requires no sample preparation. The second derivative spectra are analyzed by means of the linear least-squares regression method.

This Application Note describes how the accuracy of your NIR measurements can be increased with instrument calibration.

This Application Note describes how the accuracy of your NIR measurements can be increased with reference standards.

Moisture content is one of the most commonly measured properties of fertilizers. Globally, regulations for different fertilizers vary, but local legal limits ensure that the maximum amount of water must not be exceeded. Next to gravimetric methods, Karl Fischer titration is often used for accurate moisture determination.Compared to these methods, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers unique advantages: it generates reliable results within seconds, and at the same time does not create chemical waste. This Application Note explains how NIRS can offer fast, reagent-free analysis of moisture content in various fertilizer products.

Heparin acts as an efficient anticoagulant and, in addition to direct injection, is also used as a lock-flush solution for rinsing catheters. Vis-NIR spectroscopy can be used to determine the strength of contaminated and purified heparin. This Application Note demonstrates that heparin strength can be determined reliably with Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

Vis-NIR spectroscopy is used to determine the droplet morphology in hair conditioner. This Application Note shows that near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy can be used to distinguish between unprocessed and processed hair conditioner and to qualify quality parameters such as the droplet size.

Identification of individual polymers with FT-IR spectroscopy can be a challenge due to sample inhomogeneity especially when larger sample sizes need to be analyzed. This application note demonstrates that the DS2500 Solid Analyzer operating in the visible and near infrared spectral region (Vis-NIR) provides a reliable and fast solution for the identification of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP). With no sample preparation or chemicals needed, Vis-NIR spectroscopy allows the identification of larger inhomogeneous sample amounts in less than a minute.

In 2008, a scandal was discovered in China that melamine was being deliberately added to raw milk. Thousands of young children and infants that consumed formula produced from melamine-tainted milk experienced kidney damage and death. As a result, both daily intake limits and increased monitoring of melamine in dairy products were established globally.Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) provides quick, easy, and robust detection of melamine in a complex food matrix. As a direct test with no additional reagents, Misa’s assay format requires minimal user training, in contrast to standard analytical tests for detecting melamine, including capillary electrophoresis, GC-MS, LC-MS, and immune-based assays.

This Metrohm White Paper shows the requirements demanded of the pharmaceutical industry by the FDA with respect to software products. Implementation examples of the regulations formulated by the FDA in 21 CFR Part 11 are presented using Vision Air Pharma Software.Key words: electronic signatures, audit trails, user management, documentation

Metrohm has shaped moisture analysis for more than half a century. Find out about new developments in water analysis and learn how near-infrared spectroscopy in combination with Karl Fischer titration can increase your sample throughput and boost your productivity.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a widely used analytical technique for qualitative and quantitative analysis of various products in research and industrial applications. Because of different reasons it might be necessary to transfer analytical methods from one NIR analyzer to another one. This white paper summarizes the workflow of such method transfer.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used for quality control of skin creams. A model for the quantification of the water content was developed based on Karl Fischer titration (KF), enabling fast and reliable atline analysis and final product quality control.

Water activity is an important parameter to measure for non-sterile pharmaceutical quality and stability. The OMNIS NIR Analyzer provides this data within seconds.

Determination of the vinyl content of silicone rubber is a lengthy and challenging process. First, the vinyl groups must be converted to ethylene by reacting with an acid, followed by the determination of the produced ethylene with gas chromatography (GC).This application note demonstrates that Vis-NIR (visible near-infrared) spectroscopy provides a cost-efficient and fast solution for the determination of vinyl content in silicone rubbers. With the DS2500 Solid Analyzer it is possible to obtain results in less than a minute without sample preparation or any chemical reagents.

This Application Bulletin describes the method of near-infrared spectroscopy in diffuse reflection for the purpose of determining residual moisture in a lyophilized pharmaceutical product. Numerous sample vials containing freeze-dried pharmaceuticals were spiked with varying amounts of water for calibration purposes. The resulting differences in the absorption wavelengths of the OH-oscillation were correlated with the water content determined by Karl Fischer titration using the algorithm of multiple linear regression (MLR).

The present Application Bulletin contains NIR applications and feasibility studies for NIRSystems devices in the chemical industry. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of a wide variety of samples are part of this bulletin. Each application describes the instrument that was originally used for the analysis, as well as the system recommended for the analysis and the results that were achieved thereby.

This Application Note demonstrates that a calibration model for caffeine and microcrystalline cellulose developed on the NIRS XDS Rapid Content Analyzer (RCA) is transferable to other NIRS XDS RCA. Due to the improved signal-to-noise ratio, reduced bandwidth and improved wavelength precision of the NIRS XDS, the transferability of the calibration model can be easily and efficiently performed.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular natural remedy from the cannabis plant used in many pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic products. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is not psychoactive, making it an appealing option for those who are looking for relief from pain and other symptoms without mind-altering effects. CBD oil is made by extracting the cannabinoid from the plant, then diluting it with a carrier oil (e.g., coconut or hemp seed oil). The standard HPLC method requires 45 minutes to perform by highly trained analysts. In contrast to the primary method, Vis-NIR spectroscopy is a cost-efficient and fast analytical solution for the determination of cannabinoid content in edible oils.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) can determine water content in PGME (propylene glycol monomethyl ether) within seconds as shown in this Application Note.

Paraquat is a highly effective, yet exceptionally toxic herbicide used to manage weeds in agricultural operations. In recognition of paraquat’s danger, the EU and several other countries have banned its use for any application, though the US EPA permits its limited use by licensed applicators. Despite tight regulation, paraquat continues to be produced and is liberally used as an herbicide in over 100 countries without regulatory oversight.Testing for paraquat typically requires involved sample processing and analysis by trained chemists using expensive laboratory instruments such as HPLC, CE, and LC/MS. Misa achieves trace level detection of paraquat residue in tea leaves in a fully integrated, portable, smart system for easy on-site testing by non-technicians.

Two of the leading pain remedies, aspirin and acetaminophen, are compared with generic samples for content uniformity testing using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The method of standard addition is used for quantification. To reduce most of the effects that stem from particle size and packing differences, second derivative spectra are used.

This Application Note shows the potential of NIRS as a rapid (< 30 s) and nondestructive screening tool for solid dosage forms (e.g. tablets). NIRS requires neither sample preparation nor solvent use. Interferences that derive from scattering are minimized by converting to second derivative spectra.

This Application Note describes an NIR method for monitoring the esterification process in butyl acetate production. The developed NIR method shows excellent analytical performance equivalent to that obtainable with more time-consuming GC methods.

This Application Note shows that NIR "predictive models" are optimally suitable for the non-destructive measurement of the release profiles of active ingredients from tablets. This is in accordance with the Process Analytical Technology (PAT) initiative of the FDA. The results demonstrate how NIRS considerably reduces the work involved for release studies in the laboratory.

The determination of the water content of soft contact lenses using NIR spectroscopy is described in this Application. A liquid sample kit with gold diffuse reflector was used for measuring the lenses in transflexion mode. A PLS model was developed for predicting the water content.

This Application Note shows that near-infrared spectroscopy with its exceptionally short analysis times significantly accelerates quality monitoring of polymer granulates and raw materials. Polyethylene (PE) und polypropylene (PP) can be identified in parallel. PE density is also determined in the same measurement.

Visible near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectroscopy can be used as a fast and accurate analytical method for the quantification of different analytes and active ingredients in detergents, such as tetraacetylethylendiamin (TAED), sodium percarbonate (PCS), and enzymes. This Application Note shows how NIRS can be used for multi-constituent analyses in detergents in a single measurement.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used in a preliminary study as a fast and accurate method for the quantification of different preservatives and active ingredients in liquid shampoo. This Application Note shows how this analytical method allows the simultaneous determination of several constituents in shampoo in a single measurement.

This Application Note describes a fast, nondestructive, and reliable method for the determination of the chemical composition of alcohol mixtures exemplified by ethanol/isopropanol mixtures. With visible near infrared spectroscopy (VIS-NIRS), results are available in real-time, thus making NIRS highly suited for fast quality control.

This Application Note presents Vis-NIR spectroscopy as a viable alternative to determine API content in cefixime tablets without sample preparation.

This Application Note demonstrates the feasibility of Vis-NIRS for the simultaneous determination of multiple chemical and physical parameters in epoxy resins. Vis-NIRS is a fast alternative to conventional lab methods: it accelerates raw material inspection, process monitoring, and final product control.

The standard test method for ash content analysis is thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Although TGA is easy to perform, it is time-intensive and requires the use of nitrogen gas. In contrast to the primary method, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a fast analytical technique which can measure multiple parameters including ash content in polymers within one minute.

Typically, cannabis potency testing is performed by HPLC, but the drawback is that it requires chemicals and it is time-consuming. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a preferred method for quantification of THC, CBD and CBG in dried cannabis because it provides results in less than a minute and does not require any chemicals.

Polypropylene and polyethylene can pose recycling challenges. With near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), users receive polyolefin composition results in seconds.

Determination of the biodiesel content in diesel with NIR spectroscopy is fast and requires no sample preparation nor chemicals, reducing workload and costs.

Ethanol content can be quickly and easily determined in different wines during fermentation and afterwards for quality control using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Carbendazim (MBC) is a common fungicide approved for regulated use in agriculture globally, outside of the EU. Most MBC is found on fruits as surface contamination, the result of sprays applied prior to harvest. The US EPA has determined that a concentrations below 80 μg/mL in orange juice are not a health risk, while the EU restricts MBC levels to 10 ng/g (from imported produce) in foods intended for baby food production.This Application Note describes a very simple test for surface MBC and provides library spectra demonstrating the sensitive detection of MBC with Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer).

Malathion is an insecticide widely used on a broad spectrum of plant species. Several studies have implicated chronic exposure to malathion in the development of certain cancers. Maximum residue limits for malathion have been enacted by the regulatory agencies of several countries: the US Food and Drug Administration sets maximum residue limits at 8 μg/g in foods, while the EU has a considerably more stringent limit of 20 ng/g.SERS is an accepted method for detection of malathion on fruit and vegetable surfaces. Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer), which requires minimal laboratory chemicals and consumables and provides an extremely user-friendly interface, is an excellent SERS solution for trace detection of food adulterants.

Analyzer systems monitoring product quality can offer substantial advantages when organized in a client-server network compared to the more traditional local installation. This white paper presents different client-server setups and their benefits. Security aspects that need to be considered are discussed based on the example of the client-server Vis-NIR (visible near-infrared) spectroscopy software Vision Air, widely used for quality control in the chemical, polymer, pharmaceutical, and petrochemical industry.

The present Application Bulletin describes applications that use near-infrared spectroscopy. Each application describes the used and alternatively deployable spectrometer as well as analysis conditions and results and, where available, information on feasibility studies.

Pyrolysis gasoline (Pygas) is a by-product of ethylene production, which contains unwanted conjugated diolefins making it unsuitable as a motor fuel. To overcome this limitation, the olefin content needs to be reduced below 2 mg/g pygas in a selective hydrogenation unit (SHU). The diene value, or maleic anhydride value (MAV), is usually determined by the lengthy Diels-Alder wet chemical method (UOP326-17), requiring highly trained analysts. In contrast to the primary method, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a cost-efficient and fast analytic solution for the determination of diene value in pyrolysis gasoline.

This Application Note describes the quantification of protein content in dietary supplements using Vis-NIR spectroscopy to reduce the workload of time-consuming and waste-generating primary methods, such as Kjeldahl digestion.

Naphtha is the first petroleum product during the distillation process of crude oil or coal tar. It is primarily used as a base material for the production of gasoline or as a solvent. Accidental spills occur regularly at many locations throughout the world, leading to soil contamination.Investigation of contaminated sites is usually performed using gas chromatography, for which the soil sample has to be frozen, grinded, and subsequently extracted prior to the analysis. Using Visible-Near Infrared Spectroscopy such sample preparation steps are not necessary at all, making this method a viable, fast, and simple to use alternative.

In the semiconductor industry, thermoset resins combined with fabric or paper are used as an intermediate layer between substrates of printed circuit boards (PCB). These polymer-based sheets (laminates) are chosen depending on thickness and their thermomechanical and electrical characteristics. Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a fast, non-destructive and easy-to-use analytical method which allows the measurement of multiple key quality parameters in less than a minute. The following Application Note describes the determination of the transition time of PCB laminates by NIRS, a parameter correlating with the thickness, glass transition temperature, and tensile strength of the material.

Fast and reliable detection of phosphoric, sulfuric, nitric, and hydrofluoric acids with near-infrared spectroscopy in under one minute.

This Process Application Note provides a detailed account of the inline assessment of moisture during a pilot scale granulation process using a 2060 The NIR Analyzer.

In the pharmaceutical industry, the fluid bed granulator/dryer is an integral point in the manufacture of powdered materials. Residual moisture must be kept within certain specifications to avoid fracturing of particles or caking (stickiness) of the bulk material. Current methods are slow and cumbersome, which can lead to damaged or degraded product. The ability to monitor the residual moisture content inline after drying is possible with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The 2060 The NIR Analyzer offers fast, reagent-free, nondestructive analysis of residual moisture of powders with a fluid bed probe specifically designed for these applications.

This Process Application Note presents a method to accurately monitor low levels of moisture in tetrahydrofuran (THF) in «real-time» safely, reliably, and optimally with a 2060 The NIR Analyzer from Metrohm Process Analytics. Due to the hazardous and hygroscopic nature of THF, a single explosion-proof inline process analyzer is the preferred solution for industries to reduce chemical treatment, improve product quality, and increase profits.

Thiabendazole (TBZ) is a broad-spectrum pesticide used both as a fungicide in fruits and vegetables and for controlling parasites in animal feed. To ensure consumer safety, regulatory agencies establish maximum residue levels (MRL) for pesticide-treated crops based on their review of risk assessment studies. For bananas, which are either aerially sprayed or dipped in protectant solutions of TBZ, the US FDA reports a MRL of 3 μg/g, and the EU stipulates a MRL of 6 μg/g by weight.With Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer), the rapid and sensitive detection of TBZ on bananas is demonstrated in formats easily adapted for food safety surveillance testing.

Pyrimethanil is a broad-spectrum fungicide. As grapevines are susceptible to fungal pathogens, large-scale viticulture operations apply pyrimethanil as part of a mixed treatment. Although chemical analysis of wines post-fermentation finds low to undetectable amounts of residue, pyrimethanil is a suspected human carcinogen. The US FDA and EU have therefore established a maximum permissible level of 5 μg/mL pyrimethanil in finished wine products.In this application, trace detection of pyrimethanil in wine with Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) requires few laboratory supplies and minimal sample processing, yet returns rapid results.

Spectroelectrochemical experiments not only provide outstanding qualitative information about samples, but also offer other quantitative data that can be considered when performing analyses. A single set of experiments allows analysts to obtain two calibration curves: one with the electrochemical data and another with the spectroscopic information. The concentration of tested samples is calculated by using both curves, confirming the obtained results by two different routes. In this Application Note, comparison between electrochemical and spectroscopic determinations demonstrates that the two methods measure uric acid (UA) indistinctively, with close agreement of the calculated values with empirical data.

The demand for microelectronics and printed circuit boards (PCBs) has steadily increased as more flat panel displays, LEDs, photovoltaics, and other essential intermediates are required to create modern consumer devices. This is favorable for the semiconductor industry, though challenges may arise to deliver on time while upholding high quality standards. To be successful, several processes must be optimized in order to increase production efficiency. This White Paper describes the capabilities of the modern analytical method near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for assessing the quality of acid baths for etching of microelectronics and printed electronics. Not only are analysis times sharply reduced to less than a minute, the related running costs are also significantly lower – certainly a boost in efficiency that should not be overlooked!

Well-mixed active substances for medications are indispensable in the pharmaceutical industry. This applies not only to the pharmaceutical active ingredient but also for lubricants, binding agents, explosives, oxidants and dyes. Analysis of these active ingredients is expensive; they are also only rarely analyzed as a rule. The progress of the mixing procedures can be followed conveniently with NIR spectroscopy, on the one hand using visual comparisons and on the other by means of spectral algorithms. The progress of mixing processes can be predicted in real time with the help of the spectrum when the latter is used.

This Application Note shows how the amine number and the solids content in electrophoretic lacquer coatings can be determined quickly and simply with Vis-NIR spectroscopy. Additional parameters can be determined reliably and conveniently with a single measurement.

This Application Note shows the determination of the ratio of cotton linter to pulp in cellulose samples with Vis-NIR spectroscopy. This linter-pulp ratio is an important characteristic in the paper industry which, unlike with elaborate wet-chemistry methods, can be determined quickly and conveniently with Vis-NIR spectroscopy.

Sulfathiazoles are sulfonamides with antibiotic effect that occur in various polymorphous forms and that are often used in veterinary medicine. This Application Note shows the differentiation between commercial and sulfathiazole form I using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with the help of the overtone frequencies of N-H stretching vibration. Form I is the least stable polymorphous form. Crystallization and polymorphism must be monitored as part of quality controls. In this, NIRS is considerably more rapid and more reliable than conventional laboratory methods.

This Application Note shows that visible near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIRS) can determine water content in ethanol-hydrocarbon blends. Vis-NIRS is a fast alternative to conventional lab methods: it accelerates raw material inspection, process monitoring, and final product control.

Determination of sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), cocamidopropyl betaine (CABP), cocamidopropylamine oxide (CAW), cocamide diethanolamine (DEA), and carbopol in shampoo is a cost- and time-intensive process due to the use of large volumes of chemicals per analysis. This application note demonstrates that the DS2500 Solid Analyzer operating in the visible and near-infrared spectral region (Vis-NIR) provides a cost-efficient and fast solution for a simultaneous determination these parameters in shampoo. With no sample preparation or chemicals needed, Vis-NIR spectroscopy allows for the complete analysis in less than a minute.

Rapid quality control for toothpaste is achieved by Metrohm`s Vis-NIR analyzers. Vis-NIR technology offers significant advantages compared to standard reference analysis. It is a cost effective and safe method because no hazardous chemicals are used.

This Application Note describes a fast method for the simultaneous quantification of nicotine and glycerin in liquid mixtures used for electronic cigarettes. With visible near infrared spectroscopy (VIS-NIRS), results are available without sample preparation, thus making VIS-NIRS highly suited for fast quality control.

Caprolactam is an important polymer used for the production of Nylon 6, which is the base material for industrial fibers. Due to its commercial significance, many different synthesis methods have been developed over the years. Caprolactam is hygroscopic and water soluble, therefore it is important to have a reliable analysis technique for water determination. Analyzing the water content by conventional methods requires each sample to be weighed, dissolved, heated, and titrated. Compared to the primary method, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers unique advantages: it generates reliable results within seconds, but it does not need any sample preparation nor does it create chemical waste.

Determination of the density of polyethylene (PE) (ASTM D792) is normally a challenging procedure due to reproducibility difficulties. Measurement via FT-IR can be problematic when larger sample sizes must be analyzed due to sample inhomogeneity. This application note demonstrates that the DS2500 Solid Analyzer operating in the visible and near-infrared spectral region (Vis-NIR) provides a reliable and fast solution for determination of the density of PE. With no sample preparation or chemicals needed, Vis-NIR spectroscopy allows the analysis of larger, inhomogeneous sample sizes of PE in less than a minute.