Monitoring Emulsion Polymerization by Raman Spectroscopy

This update is designed to help researchers investigate samples at cryogenic temperatures.

Igor Lednev, Rachel Martin, and Jeanne Pemberton were all honored at the 2024 Eastern Analytical Symposium for their work across in variety of spectroscopic techniques and applications.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging contaminants requiring robust analytical techniques for identification and quantification in diverse environmental and biological matrices. This review highlights various spectroscopy methods, such as Raman, FT-IR, NIR, ICP-MS, Fluorescence, X-ray, and NMR detailing their methodologies, sample handling, and applications for characterizing MPs and NPs.

A novel method using fluorescence labeling and differential Raman spectroscopy claims to offer a more efficient, accurate approach to detect microplastics in seawater. Developed by researchers at the Ocean University of China, this method improves both the speed and precision of microplastic identification, addressing a key environmental issue affecting marine ecosystems.