Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

The basic experimental aspects of Fourier transform Raman Spectroscopy are reviewed with an emphasis on detector technology. The sensitivity is comparable to dispersive Raman Spectroscopy using visible lasers. The ease of spectral subtraction is demonstrated and examples are given showing the elimination of fluorescence.     

Monitoring cellular responses upon fatty acid exposure by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy

We investigated the applicability of FTIR-spectroscopy as a high throughput screening method for detection of biochemical changes in intact liver cells in bulk upon fatty acid exposure. HepG2 cells adapted to serum free (HepG2-SF) growth were exposed to four different fatty acids, three octadecenoic acids, differing in cis/trans-configuration or double bond position (oleic acid, elaidic acid and vaccenic acid) as well as palmitic acid in three days. High throughput FTIR spectroscopic measurements on dried films of intact cells showed spectra with high signal-to-noise ratio and great reproducibility. When applying principal component analysis (PCA) a clear discrimination between fatty acid exposures was observed. Higher levels of triacylglycerides were accumulated in cells exposed to elaidic acid than when exposed to the other fatty acids; the least accumulation appeared to be in cells exposed to palmitic acid. An increased absorption at ~966 cm(-1) corresponding to trans-double bond was detected upon elaidic acid exposure but not upon vaccenic acid exposure. Instead, upon vaccenic acid exposure two new absorption bands were observed at 981 and 946 cm(-1) due to the presence of double bond conjugation. Raman spectroscopy on single cells, with and without treatment by vaccenic acid, confirmed the presence of conjugation. By fatty acid composition analysis, the conjugation was further specified to be conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers. Thus, instead of being preserved as a monounsaturated fatty acid, vaccenic acid was converted into CLA in HepG2 cells. The results demonstrate the applicability of high-throughput FTIR spectroscopy as an explorative method in in vitro systems from which biologically relevant hypotheses can be generated and further investigated.     

Some consequences of the Fourier transform in Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

This paper reviews some of the differences between dispersive and Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy with the goal of highlighting some of the advantages and disadvantages of FT-Raman spectroscopy. In particular, the use of filters, Connes advantage, trading rules and the size of the multiplex and throughput advantages are discussed.     

Experimental aspects of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

Using a commercial Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and the 1.064m line of a CW NdYAG laser, we have measured the Raman spectra of a wide variety of materials. The Raman scattered light, Stokes shifted toward the mid-infrared, is collected, using a 90° lens geometry, and focused through the emission port of the spectrometer. After passing through the Michelson interferometer, the light is detected by a thermoelectrically-cooled high-sensitivity germanium detector. The Fourier transform of the resulting interferogram gives the Raman spectrum. This new technique allows spectra to be obtained of samples which were previously completely masked by competing fluorescence. In addition, FT-Raman also allows moieties, such as hydrocarbon chains, which are not present in resonance enhanced spectra, to be investigated. We will discuss our approach toward FT-Raman, which is compatible with traditional Raman spectroscopy, present representative spectra of liquids and solids, and draw some comparisons and contrasts between dispersive and FT measurements.     

Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy of kandite clays

The Raman spectra of the kandite clay minerals, kaolinite, halloysite, dickite and nacrite, have been measured in the 180–3000 cm⁻¹ region using Fourier transform near-IR Raman spectroscopy. These clays have a very small Raman cross-section and long data collection times were often required to obtain good spectra. Each clay has its own unique characteristic Raman spectrum which enables each kandite to be identified easily. In contrast, it is quite difficult to distinguish kandite clays by IR spectroscopy. Nacrite and dickite have relatively intense Raman peaks in the 1000–1100 cm⁻¹ region, whereas kaolinite is characterized by an intense peak at 685 cm⁻¹ and halloysite at 470 cm⁻¹.     

Retention behaviour of unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters on porous graphitic carbon

The eluotropic strength of binary mobile phases was calculated for three homologous series of cis, trans, and cis-cis unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). Binary mobile phases with chloroform, dichloromethane, or tetrahydrofuran as strong solvent and methanol or acetonitrile as weak solvent were tested. The volume fraction of strong solvent in the binary phases was between 0.3 and 0.8. Curves of eluotropic strength versus volume fraction of strong solvents showed similar trends to previously published results for saturated homologues. Correlation coefficients of the plots of eluotropic strength values for saturated versus unsaturated FAMEs were close to 1.0. Therefore these similarities validate the model of eluotropic strength previously established with saturated FAMEs as relevant for unsaturated FAMEs. The separation factors between cis and trans homologues always showed elution of the cis before the trans homologue. The difference in retention is due primarily to the geometry of the molecule. The retention is lowered more by the addition of a first carbon double bond than by the addition of a second one, independently of the mobile phase composition.     

Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy in the visible region

Low-resolution (ca. 4cm^–1) Raman spectra of various liquids and solids, excited by an argon laser at 448 and 514.5 nm, were recorded using a BOMEM DA3.02 commercial interferometer. These spectra were compared with those obtained in the same experimental conditions on a conventional dispersive spectrometer. It is concluded that for low-resolution Raman studies with excitation in the visible region, the dispersive method is superior to the interferometric technique.     

Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy: Its value in the study of polymers

The advantages of FT Raman spectroscopy, using a near-infrared excitation source, are discussed. The details of the instrumentation are described and the many applications of FT Raman spectroscopy in polymer science are surveyed.     

Quantitative aspects of near-infrared Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

Three fundamental behaviors of vibrational spectroscopy data manipulation routinely associated with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy are evaluated for near-infrared (NIR) Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. Spectral reproducibility, spectral subtraction and sensitivity are examined relative to the NIR FT-Raman experiment. Quantitative predictive ability is compared for identical sets of samples containing mixtures of the three xylene isomers. Partial least-squares analysis is used to compare predictive ability. IR performance is found to be better than Raman, though the potential for method development using NIR FT-Raman is shown to be quite promising.     

The analysis of biomedical poly(ortho esters) by near-IR Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

In this paper near-IR Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy (FT-RS) has been applied to a series of homopolymer and copolymer biodegradable poly(ortho ester) systems, with the aim of establishing what further information it can furnish over and above conventional polymer characterization methods. The data suggest that the technique is able to provide reasonable information on diol content, furnishing semiquantitative data as a function of methylene number within the homopolymer and copolymer content in diethanolamines The complementary nature of FT-IR spectroscopy is briefly highlighted as a benchmark to which the FT-RS data can be compared.     

Synthetic polyisoprenes studied by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

Fourier transform Raman spectra are presented for the cis-1,4 and trans-1,4 isomers of polyisoprenes Vibrational intensities are used to determine quantitatively the amounts of each isomer in the microstructure. Improvements over previous work are suggested for the quantitative assessment of 1,4 microstructure. Also, changes in the Raman spectrum due to oxidative degradation show that preferential oxidative degradation for the vinyl-3,4 units occurs. The α and β forms of trans-1,4 polyisoprene were studied the ν(CC) bands resolved were identified 4 cm⁻¹ apart. A study of the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate with isoprene showed that the 1,4 form is the most favoured form produced on copolymerization. Accurate cis-1,4 and trans-1,4 microstructural information could not, however, be determined.     

Complexation of chitosan with acetic acid according to Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy data

The results of the interaction between the protonated chitosan (CHI) macromolecule and the acetate ion in dilute acetic acid solutions were studied by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy and quantum-chemical modeling. The complexation of CHI with the acetate ion showed itself as the 934 cm^?1 band in the Raman spectrum, which suggests the formation of [CHI⁺ · CH₃COO^?] type ion pairs. It was concluded that a comparative analysis of the integrated intensities of the Raman bands in the range 880–940 cm^?1 makes it possible to judge about the relative content of hydrated acetate ions, CHI macromolecules of the [CHI⁺ · CH₃COO^?] complex, and acetic acid molecules not involved in CHI protonation.     

1064-nanometer-excited Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy of conducting polymers

Application of 1064-nm-excited Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectroscopy to the characterization of conducting polymers is described. 1064-nm-excited FT-Raman spectra with high signal-to-noise ratios are obtained from polyacetylene (PA), poly(1,4-phenylene) (PPP), poly(1,4-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and poly(2,5-thienylene vinylene) (PTV) in their neutral (insulating) state. The resonant Raman spectra of acceptor- or donor-doped (conducting) PA and PPV are also obtained wih 1064-nm excitation. The resonant Raman spectra of Na-doped PA change in two stages with increasing dopant concentration, the first change corresponding to the increase in electrical conductivity and the second to the appearance of a Pauli susceptibility. The 1064-nm-excited FT-Raman spectrum of Na-doped PPV indicates existence of negative bipolarons which are equivalent to divalent anions extending over a few repeating units in the polymer chains.     

Analysis of high-explosive samples by Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy

The application of spectroscopic techniques to the detection and identification of explosive materials is of considerable importance in forensic investigations. However, forensic scientists do not routinely use conventional Raman spectroscopy in their analysis. This is due to the problems of high background scatter and time-consuming sample alignment. The development of Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy has overcome these problems. Using this technique three samples of different batches of Semtex labelled Semtex A, Semtex B and Semtex C were analysed. Semtex A was found to contain the explosive cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), Semtex B contained pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) and Semtex C contained a mixture of RDX and PETN.     

Fourier transform spectroscopy using image sensors

Multichannel Fourier transform spectrometers utilizing image sensing devices are reviewed along with the instrumental design concepts. Although the idea itself is fairly simple, a photographic plate in holographic spectroscopy is replaced by an image sensor, there are stringent requirements to be satisfied in order to realize the system for field use. Mainly two types of the instrument, which are characterized by the Sagnac common-path interferometer and the polarization interferometer optics, respectively, are described with regard to their system performances. Examples of the system operation introduced show that Fourier transform spectrometers without mechanical moving parts play an important role in a variety of spectroscopic applications under severe surroundings. In a summary, methods for the resolution enhancement and comments on the signal-to-noise ratio are also included.     

Catalytic hydrogenation of fatty acid methyl esters

Catalytic hydrogenation of a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters, which are produced by re-esterification of vegetable (sunflower) oil and are contained in biodiesel fuel, was studied.     

A preliminary study of the Fourier transform Raman spectra of polystyrenes

The Fourier transform Raman spectra of several isotactic and atactic polystyrene samples are presented. Correlations between the spectra and the crystallinity and conformation of the samples are discussed.