Food and Nutrition

Raman Spectroscopy has the advantage over infrared since it is non-invasive, non-destructive, and the sampling protocols are simplified. This is because it can simply analyzed through glass containers, or the sample may be simply analyzed in its raw form without dilution.Furthermore, many food formulations contain significant quantities of water, and Raman is ideal because water is a weak Raman scatterer. Therefore, it does not interfere with the spectrum.

Some food substances contain natural pigments and synthetic coloring agents that fluoresce. This is circumvented with higher wavelength excitation such as a 785 nm NIR laser diode lasers. Examples of niche applications using Raman spectroscopy are edible oils, corn sweeteners, sugar cane/beet sugar, dairy products and various process control applications.

Example: Edible oils analyzed with EZRaman

Edible oils analyzed with TSI EZRaman-A.

Feature at 1525 cm-1, as a function of olive oil grade

Selected Publications by Enwave Customers With Food or Nutrition Applications:
  • Huang, Y. “Rapid Detection of Foodborne Pathogenic Bacteria by Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Using Ag Nanorod Array Substrates”. United States Department of Agriculture. Research, Education & Economic Information System. 1 Jan. 2010.
  • Kathirvel, P., Ermakov, I.V., Gellermann, W., Mai, J., and Richards, M.P. Resonance Raman Monitoring of Lipid Oxidation in Muscle Foods. July 2008. International Journal of Food Science and Technology, 43: 2095-2099.
  • Moustakas, C. A Method for Determining Nutritional Facts with Raman Spectroscopy. May 2008. University of Cyprus in parial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
  • Nguyen, D., Wu. E. "Determination of Low Concentration Methanol in Alcohol," Spectroscopy Magazine, Feb. 2010; 15.
  • "Raman Analysis of Low Concentration Ions in Water," Spectroscopy Magazine, Sept. 2009; 17.
  • Ring, T.A. Comparison of Raman and ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy of Aqueous Sugar Solutions. Lecture note: http://www.che.utah.edu/~ring/Instrumental%20Analysis%20CHE5503/Sample% 20Memo%20Report.doc.