Best of the Week: Seed Vigor, Flower Classification, Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy

This week, Spectroscopy published various articles that covered many topics in analytical spectroscopy. This week’s articles touch upon several important application areas such as environmental analysis and atomic spectroscopy. Several key techniques are highlighted, including laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR). Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most popular articles, according to our readers and subscribers. Happy reading!

Evaluation and Development Trends of Optical Detection Technology for Seed Vigor

This peer-reviewed article reviews advancements in optical technology for assessing seed vigor, a critical factor in field production that encompasses germination rate, potential, and vitality index. Traditional methods for measuring seed vitality are labor-intensive and prone to human error, prompting the rise of optical techniques offering high precision, efficiency, and frequency (1). The article explores the principles, benefits, and limitations of various optical methods, focusing on non-destructive single-seed detection (1). It also analyzes current trends in optical detection, including seed characteristic spectrum databases, intelligent sorting, and grading equipment.

Flower Classification Using LIBS Combined with PCA Chemometrics

This peer-reviewed study applied LIBS with principal component analysis (PCA) to classify flower species, enhancing their appreciation and application. Flowers with similar colors or shapes were analyzed by directing laser pulses to form plasma, collecting light, and identifying surface materials (2). LIBS produced spectral data for 240 samples, focusing on intensity ratios of six elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Si, Ca). Dimensionality reduction using PCA compressed the data, enabling effective clustering and database creation. A template matching model (TMM) trained with this data achieved 97% classification accuracy, demonstrating the potential of LIBS and PCA for accurate flower identification (2).

Benjamin T. Manard Honored as the 2025 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy

Spectroscopy magazine awarded Benjamin T. Manard, a Research Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the 2025 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy Award for his work in nuclear material characterization and isotope ratio analysis. Manard’s research, leveraging techniques like inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), ICP–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and laser ablation, has significantly advanced nuclear forensics and environmental monitoring (3). Notably, he developed a tandem method combining laser ablation–ICP-MS and LIBS for uranium particle analysis. With over 40 publications and an h-index of 24, Manard’s contributions are widely recognized. He will deliver a keynote at the European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry in March 2025 (3).

Do We Qualify or Validate a Spectrometer?

In this “Focus on Quality” column published in the latest print issue of Spectroscopy, Mahboubeh Lotfinia and R. D. McDowall critically examine the regulatory divide between analytical instrument qualification and computerized system validation. They review the guidelines outlined in the World Health Organization Technical Report Series (WHO TRS) 1019 Annex 3, focusing on their applicability to spectrometer systems (4). The column highlights the need for a unified approach to ensure spectrometers are fit for their intended use while addressing both qualification and validation requirements, providing insights into improving compliance and operational efficiency in analytical laboratories (4).

Hidden Contaminants in Tea Bags: Using Analytical Spectroscopy to Characterize Microplastics and Nanoplastics (MNPLs)

Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPLs) are pervasive pollutants increasingly detected in food and beverages, raising health concerns. A recent study in Chemosphere investigated MNPL release from polymer-based teabags made of nylon-6, polypropylene, and cellulose, using advanced techniques like scanning electron microscope (SEM), TEM, and NTA (5). The findings underscore the need for standardized methods to evaluate MNPL toxicity and inform policies to reduce plastic contamination (5).

References

1. Xiaoyu, W.; Mingdong, Z.; Jie, L.; et al. Evaluation and Development Trends of Optical Detection Technology for Seed Vigor. Spectroscopy 2025, ASAP. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/evaluation-and-development-trends-of-optical-detection-technology-for-seed-vigor (accessed 2025-01-09)
2. Dai, B.; Liang, F.; Fu, X.; et al. Flower Classification Using LIBS Combined with PCA Chemometrics. Spectroscopy 2025, ASAP. https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/flower-classification-using-libs-combined-with-pca-chemometrics (accessed 2025-01-09)
3. Workman, Jr., J. Benjamin T. Manard Honored as the 2025 Emerging Leader in Atomic Spectroscopy. Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/benjamin-t-manard-honored-as-the-2025-emerging-leader-in-atomic-spectroscopy (accessed 2025-01-09).
4. Lotfinia, M.; McDowall, R. D. Do We Qualify or Validate a Spectrometer? Spectroscopy 2024, 39 (8), 22–30. DOI: 10.56530/spectroscopy.lz1286o2
5. Wetzel, W. Hidden Contaminants in Tea Bags: Using Analytical Spectroscopy to Characterize Microplastics and Nanoplastics (MNPLs). Spectroscopy. Available at: https://www.spectroscopyonline.com/view/hidden-contaminants-in-tea-bags-using-analytical-spectroscopy-to-characterize-microplastics-and-nanoplastics-mnpls- (accessed 2025-01-09).