Use of a rapid scanning stigmatic Raman imaging spectrograph in the industrial environment

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy is steadily growing in importance in the industrial analytical laboratory. The nature of the equipment, its ease of use and its cost are making the method more acceptable to non-experts. This paper illustrates the capabilities of a recent commercialized Raman system which fulfils the criteria of ease of use, speed and low cost. The system is designed for Raman microscopy and uses a single spectrograph and CCD detector. The combination provides confocal microscopy, high throughput and optimum sensitivity, to the extent that it only requires the use of a low-powered laser to provide high-quality spectral data. The additional feature of direct Raman imaging is seen as being beneficial in the industrial environment in that it provides spatial information over large surface areas quickly and without the need for excessive amounts of data processing. The performance of the instrument is illustrated with applications taken from the industrial environment.

Vibrational Spectroscopy Study of Selenate and Sulfate Adsorption Mechanisms on Fe and Al (Hydr)oxide Surfaces

“…This instrument and its applications have been described in detail by Williams et al (27,28). In brief, the instrument consisted of a low-powered air-cooled laser source (514 nm), a Leica microscope, a single spectrograph (0.25-m focal length), and a Pertier cooled CCD detector (600 × 400 pixels).…”

“…One of the attractive aspects of Raman spectroscopy for its application to minerals in an aqueous suspension is the fact that Raman is transparent to water (25). The recent developments in Raman instrumentation have enabled the construction of high-performance, high-throughput Raman instruments (27). The higher sensitivity enables the use of lower powered lasers and, consequently, lowers the risk of sample degradation during the Raman analysis.…”

Raman spectroscopy of metals, high‐temperature superconductors and related materials under high pressure

“…Specifically, they have allowed the measurement of previously prohibitively weak Raman signals of metals under high pressure, 13 and even of high-temperature superconductors. 14 -16 Further improvements to the technique have been the use of single-stage fast spectrographs 17,18 and holographic optics. 19 We have incorporated these improvements into our system, and have Ł Correspondence to: Dr Alexander F. Goncharov done so in such a way as to facilitate the rapid tuning of the excitation wavelength, without the need for additional adjustments to other optics.…”

Raman spectra of human skin and nail excited in the visible region

“…20 lm and restricting the CCD detection area to 600 ] 5 pixels. 17 The Raman equipment employed was a Renishaw Raman imaging microscope (System 3000) consisting of a single spectrograph (0.25 m focal length) containing a holographic grating (1800 grooves mm~1), an Olympus metallurgical microscope and a Peltier-cooled CCD detector (600 ] 400 pixels). The spectra were excited at 632.8 nm with radiation from a 35 mW air-cooled HeÈNe laser (Spectra-Physics Model 127) and the laser power was 7 mW at the sample, which was studied on a glass slide.…”