Characterization and quantitation of a tertiary mixture of salts by Raman spectroscopy in simulated hydrothermal vent fluid

Raman Spectroscopy for Homeland Security Applications

Raman spectroscopy is an analytical technique with vast applications in the homeland security and defense arenas. The Raman effect is defined by the inelastic interaction of the incident laser with the analyte molecule’s vibrational modes, which can be exploited to detect and identify chemicals in various environments and for the detection of hazards in the field, at checkpoints, or in a forensic laboratory with no contact with the substance. A major source of error that overwhelms the Raman signal is fluorescence caused by the background and the sample matrix. Novel methods are being developed to enhance the Raman signal’s sensitivity and to reduce the effects of fluorescence by altering how the hazard material interacts with its environment and the incident laser. Basic Raman techniques applicable to homeland security applications include conventional (off-resonance) Raman spectroscopy, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), resonance Raman spectroscopy, and spatially or temporally offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS and TORS). Additional emerging Raman techniques, including remote Raman detection, Raman imaging, and Heterodyne imaging, are being developed to further enhance the Raman signal, mitigate fluorescence effects, and monitor hazards at a distance for use in homeland security and defense applications.

Mineral-microbe interactions in deep-sea hydrothermal systems: a challenge for Raman spectroscopy

In deep-sea hydrothermal environments, steep chemical and thermal gradients, rapid and turbulent mixing and biologic processes produce a multitude of diverse mineral phases and foster the growth of a variety of chemosynthetic micro-organisms. Many of these microbial species are associated with specific mineral phases, and the interaction of mineral and microbial processes are of only recently recognized importance in several areas of hydrothermal research. Many submarine hydrothermal mineral phases form during kinetically limited reactions and are either metastable or are only thermodynamically stable under in situ conditions. Laser Raman spectroscopy is well suited to mineral speciation measurements in the deep sea in many ways, and sea-going Raman systems have been built and used to make a variety of in situ measurements. However, the full potential of this technique for hydrothermal science has yet to be realized. In this focused review, we summarize both the need for in situ mineral speciation measurements in hydrothermal research and the development of sea-going Raman systems to date; we describe the rationale for further development of a small, low-cost sea-going Raman system optimized for mineral identification that incorporates a fluorescence-minimizing design; and we present three experimental applications that such a tool would enable.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of CO2 and CH4 dissolved in water and seawater using laser Raman spectroscopy

Laboratory experiments have been performed using laser Raman spectroscopy to analyze carbon dioxide (CO(2)) and methane (CH(4)) dissolved in water and seawater. Dissolved CO(2) is characterized by bands at approximately 1275 and 1382 Deltacm(-1). Dissolved CH(4) is characterized by a dominant band at approximately 2911 Deltacm(-1). The laboratory instrumentation used for this work is equivalent to the sea-going Raman instrument, DORISS (Deep Ocean Raman In Situ Spectrometer). Limits of quantification and calibration curves were determined for each species. The limits of quantification are approximately 10 mM for CO(2) and approximately 4 mM for CH(4). A ratio technique is used to obtain quantitative information from Raman spectra: the gas bands are referenced to the O-H stretching band of water. The calibration curves relating band height ratios to gas concentration are linear and valid for a range of temperatures, pressures, and salinities. Current instrumentation is capable of measuring the highest dissolved gas concentration observed in end-member hydrothermal fluids. Further development work is needed to improve sensitivity and optimize operational configurations.

Marine chemical technology and sensors for marine waters: potentials and limits

A significant need exists for in situ sensors that can measure chemical species involved in the major processes of primary production (photosynthesis and chemosynthesis) and respiration. Some key chemical species are O2, nutrients (N and P), micronutrients (metals), pCO2, dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), pH, and sulfide. Sensors need to have excellent detection limits, precision, selectivity, response time, a large dynamic concentration range, low power consumption, robustness, and less variation of instrument response with temperature and pressure, as well as be free from fouling problems (biological, physical, and chemical). Here we review the principles of operation of most sensors used in marine waters. We also show that some sensors can be used in several different oceanic environments to detect the target chemical species, whereas others are useful in only one environment because of various limitations. Several sensors can be used truly in situ, whereas many others involve water brought into a flow cell via tubing to the analyzer in the environment or aboard ship. Multi-element sensors that measure many chemical species in the same water mass should be targeted for further development.