Raman spectra have been measured for a number of nitrates, nitrites, sulfates, ferrocyanides, and ferricyanides, both in the solid phase and in aqueous solution. Accurate locations of peak maxima are given. Limits of detection for some of the compounds are given for solutions and for solid mixtures in NaNO3. Preliminary measurements have been made on core material recovered from the storage tanks on the Hanford site in Richland, Washington. Representative spectra are presented, showing that it is possible to observe responses of individual components from measurements made directly on untreated cores, with the use of a fiberoptic sampling probe.

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We have examined the feasibility of the remote determination of water in a sodium nitrate matrix by fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy with multichannel detection. The direct determination based on the Raman line due to OH bending is shown to be possible but relatively insensitive. A determination based on the ratio of signals due to dissolved and solid nitrate is shown to provide a water detection limit of less than 1% for a measurement time of one minute.

Abstract:We have evaluated a small portable Raman instrument on loan from B&W Tek, Inc., and have determined that it can successfully be used in the classroom both as a visual aid for teaching the fundamentals of Raman spectroscopy and for a variety of undergraduate experiments as a normal component of an instrumental analysis class. Having portable Raman instrumentation would allow the instructor to demonstrate the principles of Raman spectroscopy, as well as the concepts of calibration curves, blank subtraction, detection limits, and regression analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative types of experiments were done for solid Tylenol tablets, aqueous solutions of isopropyl alcohol, dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and ethanol, and gaseous CO 2 and N 2 O 4 . Additionally, surface-enhanced resonance Raman spectra of Rhodamine 6G were obtained using a chloride ion-activated silver colloid. Spectra from the B&W Tek, Inc., instrument were comparable to literature Raman spectra.