Application Finder

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.

Although the process of building, validating and using a method is well-defined through software, the robustness of the method is dependent on proper practice of sampling, validation, and method maintenance. In this document, we will detail the recommended practices for using the multivariate method with NanoRam-1064. These practices are recommended for end users who are in the pharmaceutical environment, and can expand to other industries as well. This document aims to serve as a general reference for NanoRam-1064 users who would like to build an SOP for method development, validation and implementation.

Raman spectroscopy’s use for process analytics in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries continues to grow due to its nondestructive measurements, fast analysis times, and ability to do both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Spectral preprocessing algorithms are routinely applied to quantitative spectroscopic data in order to enhance spectral features while minimizing variability unrelated to the analyte in question. In this technical note we discuss the main preprocessing options pertinent to Raman spectroscopy with real applications examples, and to review the algorithms available in B&W Tek and Metrohm software so that the reader becomes comfortable applying them to build Raman quantitative models.

Formaldehyde can be determined reductively at the DME. Depending on the sample composition it may be possible to determine the formaldehyde directly in the sample. If interferences occur then sample preparation may be necessary, e.g. absorption, extraction, or distillation.Two methods are described. In the first method formaldehyde is reduced directly in alkaline solution. Higher concentrations of alkaline or alkaline earth metals interfere. In such cases the second method can be applied. Formaldehyde is derivatized with hydrazine forming the hydrazone, which can be measured polarographically in acidic solution.

The Rancimat method determines the oxidation stability (OSI) and antioxidant capacity (SI) of solid foods. OSI measurements are performed directly, with extracted isolated fat, or via the polyethylene glycol method. SI can be determined when the sample is mixed with a reference of antioxidant-free fat.

Determination of methylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid using anion chromatography with direct conductivity detection.

Determination of fosetyl-aluminum (aluminum tris(o-ethylphosphate)) using anion chromatography with direct conductivity detection.

EU Regulation 1169/2011 defines rules for nutrition declaration on foodstuffs. The objective is to provide food information to the general public and to label food ingredients that are hazardous to health when consumed in larger quantities. This Application Note describes the determination of four sugars in honey.

Adulteration in the food industry is a significant concern due to potential health risks and changes in product quality and nutrition. Detecting such adulteration is challenging, however, to ensure high-quality products, precise measurements during the manufacturing process are essential for identifying any contamination in raw materials and final products. This Process Application Note details the inline analysis of potato starch in the wheat flour manufacturing process with a 2060 The NIR Analyzer from Metrohm Process Analytics.

Rhodamine B is a dye utilized extensively in biotechnology and industrial applications and is one of several colorants banned for use as food additives in Europe and North America. The most common analytical methods for detection of illicit dyes in food products, GC/MS and HPLC, are laboratory-based instrumental methods that require specialized training.With Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer), detection of trace amounts of Rhodamine B in ground cayenne pepper is quick and easy after a facile extraction procedure with minimal material consumption. Rhodamine B can be detected in cayenne powder at a concentrations as low as 10 µg/g.

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.

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.

Malachite green (MG) is a textile dye with effective fungicidal properties, however it is acutely toxic and its metabolites persist in the flesh of fish and mammals, making it a threat to the human food chain. The EU has concluded that contaminated foods containing levels higher than 2 μg/g MG constitute a credible health risk, and several countries have banned malachite green as an aquaculture additive. Despite tight regulation, seafood products contaminated with MG continue to find their way to consumers.Using Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) to ensure food safety, the rapid and highly sensitive detection of malachite green is achieved in a facile assay format.

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.

Auramine O (AO) is an industrial dye used for a broad range of manufactured products and as a fluorescent stain for detecting acid-fast bacteria in clinical specimens. Due to its intense yellow coloration, AO is also prized as an additive for enhancing the visual appeal of illicitly processed food products. Despite bans on AO as a food additive, surveillance testing indicates its persistent use as an adulterant in foods and spices.Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) achieves the rapid and sensitive detection of AO in curry powder in a simple assay format.

Erythrosine B (EB), also known as Red Dye #3, is a synthetic dye approved for use in candy in the US, and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in the EU and elsewhere. However, rodent studies suggest that ingestion of EB can promote thyroid tumor formation. EB may also be implicated as a dietary factor contributing to hyperkinesis in children. WHO recommends a daily intake of EB less than 0.1 mg/kg of body weight.The ability to obtain fast results with a portable test platform recommends Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) as a competitive and cost-effective alternative to laboratory technologies (e.g., CE, HPLC) currently employed for detecting EB in foodstuffs.

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).

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.

Diphenylamine (DPA) is used as a dye fixative and antioxidant in industrial applications and as a produce preservative in agricultural operations. Food safety advocates are concerned that daily ingestion of DPA, particularly in foods meant for babies, could have negative effects on children’s health. To mitigate potentially toxic effects of DPA, both the US and EU stipulate a maximum residue limit (MRL) of 5 μg/g for whole pears and a stringent MRL of 10 ng/g for all processed baby foods.Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) provides a user-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional analytical methods used for detecting DPA in foods, such as GC-MS and GC-NPD.

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.

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.

Fenthion is a multi-purpose insecticide used in many countries for mosquito control. To minimize human exposure and the unintentional poisoning of wildlife, the US EPA has classified fenthion as a restricted-use insecticide. However, the widespread spraying of olive orchards in Mediterranean countries results in olive oils that occasionally exceed the maximum residue limits established for olives.Misa (Metrohm Instant SERS Analyzer) easily achieves sensitive trace detection of fenthion in spiked olive oil after a simple organic solvent extraction. This Application Note presents an excellent example of how the signal from SERS substrates can compete with the target signal at very low levels of detection.

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.

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.

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

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

Determination of melamine in milk, diary products, eggs, and egg-based foodstuffs using cation chromatography.

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.

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.

Free white paper gives comprehensive overview of how to reliably assess the quality of infant formula with ion chromatography.

OMNIS Client/Server boosts business performance with scalable server management, cutting costs by reducing hardware, energy use, and maintenance across locations.