A chromatographic approach for fluorescence reduction in liquid Raman analysis

In this study a chromatographic approach for fluorescence reduction in liquid Raman analysis has been evaluated. The idea behind the approach is to apply a chromatographic separation step prior to Raman analysis in order to separate fluorescing compounds from other components of interest, thus facilitating better quantitative and qualitative analysis of the latter components. A real-time liquid-core Raman waveguide detector designed for chromatographic applications was used in the study, thus providing real-time chemical pretreatment of liquid samples for Raman analysis. Twenty aqueous mixtures of additives frequently found in beverages were analyzed, and for comparative purposes the mixtures were also analyzed in the Raman waveguide detector without chromatographic separation and with a conventional immersion probe. Both qualitatively and quantitatively satisfying results were obtained using the chromatographic Raman approach, and the technique provided possibilities for quantitative and qualitative assessments superior to the two other instrumental setups. The technique may provide additional benefits through sensitivity enhancements, and the approach is simple, inexpensive, and easy to implement in the average applied Raman laboratory. The analysis of various chemical systems and factors such as system stability over time need further evaluation in order to confirm the general applicability of the approach.