Portable NIR spectroscopy: the route to green analytical chemistry

Abstract

There is a growing interest for cost-effective and nondestructive analytical techniques in both research and application fields. The growing approach by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRs) pushes to develop handheld devices devoted to be easily applied for in situ determinations. Consequently, portable NIR spectrometers actually result definitively recognized as powerful instruments, able to perform nondestructive, online, or in situ analyses, and useful tools characterized by increasingly smaller size, lower cost, higher robustness, easy-to-use by operator, portable and with ergonomic profile. Chemometrics play a fundamental role to obtain useful and meaningful results from NIR spectra. In this review, portable NIRs applications, published in the period 2019–2022, have been selected to indicate starting references. These publications have been chosen among the many examples of the most recent applications to demonstrate the potential of this analytical approach which, not having the need for extraction processes or any other pre-treatment of the sample under examination, can be considered the “true green analytical chemistry” which allows the analysis where the sample to be characterized is located. In the case of industrial processes or plant or animal samples, it is even possible to follow the variation or evolution of fundamental parameters over time. Publications of specific applications in this field continuously appear in the literature, often in unfamiliar journal or in dedicated special issues. This review aims to give starting references, sometimes not easy to be found.

In‐field soil spectroscopy in Vis–NIR range for fast and reliable soil analysis: A review

“…To make full use of the advantages of Vis-NIR spectroscopy, measurements directly in the field should be strived for, as timeconsuming efforts like sampling, packing and marking samples that need to be transported to a laboratory for further pretreatments before analysis can be avoided. Robust field instruments are now available and are becoming more affordable and user-friendly (Gullifa et al, 2023). Achieving successful field measurements would be of great benefit to agriculture, as it could facilitate denser sampling and an improved spatial resolution, supporting the delineation in management zones and variable rate inputs applied (Sarkhot et al, 2011).…”

Predicting Egg Storage Time with a Portable Near-Infrared Instrument: Effects of Temperature and Production System

“…In recent years, the availability of miniaturized and portable NIR instruments has provided the food industry with new opportunities for the use of this technology [23][24][25]. Miniaturized and portable NIR spectrometers have provided researchers with the ability to develop on-site and in-field applications of NIR spectroscopy [23][24][25].…”

“…In recent years, the availability of miniaturized and portable NIR instruments has provided the food industry with new opportunities for the use of this technology [23][24][25]. Miniaturized and portable NIR spectrometers have provided researchers with the ability to develop on-site and in-field applications of NIR spectroscopy [23][24][25]. Several fields have recognized the advantages of these instruments, including law enforcement and military applications, environmental analysis and food quality control and safety [23][24][25].…”

“…Miniaturized and portable NIR spectrometers have provided researchers with the ability to develop on-site and in-field applications of NIR spectroscopy [23][24][25]. Several fields have recognized the advantages of these instruments, including law enforcement and military applications, environmental analysis and food quality control and safety [23][24][25]. More importantly, these instruments provide the same accuracy and performance as the laboratory bench instruments [23][24][25].…”

“…Several fields have recognized the advantages of these instruments, including law enforcement and military applications, environmental analysis and food quality control and safety [23][24][25]. More importantly, these instruments provide the same accuracy and performance as the laboratory bench instruments [23][24][25]. Portable NIR devices are similar to laboratory benchtop instruments but are much smaller and lighter.…”