Applications

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.

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.

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.

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.

This poster looks at the possibility to modify the existing EPA Method to meet California's rigorous public health goal (PHG) of 0.02 µg/L. After optimizing instrument settings and method parameters, a method detection limit (MDL) of 0.01 µg/L is obtained.

Psychoactive gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its prodrug gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) are substances that are increasingly abused as date-rape and recreational (party) drugs. Since the non-controlled GBL converts into the illicit GHB both in-vivo and in-vitro, their legal distinction is of crucial importance.For the forensic determination of illegally added GHB and GBL in commonly consumed beverages, this work presents a simple and sensitive method that employs direct-injection ion chromatography combined with spectrophotometric detection. The method allows to trace GHB-GLB interconversion, whether in vivo or in vitro lactone cleavage or intramolecular GHB esterification, and thus complies with pertinent requirements of law enforcement agencies.

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).

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.

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.

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.