Fast Detection of Different Water Contaminants by Raman Spectroscopy and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract

Fast monitoring of water quality is a fundamental part of environmental management and protection, in particular, the possibility of qualitatively and quantitatively determining its contamination at levels that are dangerous for human health, fauna and flora. Among the techniques currently available, Raman spectroscopy and its variant, Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), have several advantages, including no need for sample preparation, quick and easy operation and the ability to operate on the field. This article describes the application of the Raman and SERS technique to liquid samples contaminated with different classes of substances, including nitrates, phosphates, pesticides and their metabolites. The technique was also used for the detection of the air pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and, in particular, benzo(a)pyrene, considered as a reference for the carcinogenicity of the whole class of these compounds. To pre-concentrate the analytes, we applied a methodology based on the well-known coffee-ring effect, which ensures preconcentration of the analytes without any pretreatment of the sample, providing a versatile approach for fast and in-situ detection of water pollutants. The obtained results allowed us to reveal these analytes at low concentrations, close to or lower than their regulatory limits.

Raman spectroscopy and SERS by using Ag-nano-wires for detecting 1,2,4-Triazole in aqueous phase

“…It has also been used for rapid monitoring of water quality for the protection of human health as well as wildlife. The latter was developed by Salvatore Almaviva et al [3], where Raman spectroscopy was also used to detect nitrates, phosphates, pesticides, and their metabolites in water.…”

A Distributed Deep Learning Network Based on Data Enhancement for Few-Shot Raman Spectral Classification of Litopenaeus vannamei Pathogens

“…In the field of microbial classification, Raman spectroscopy has also made significant progress. For example, various related research has arisen in the detection of foodborne pathogens [14], environmental microorganisms [15], and human pathogens [16], and a full system has gradually been established. However, despite Raman spectroscopy's success in rapidly identifying microorganisms, it is an unavoidable fact that obtaining Raman spectroscopy data takes up the majority of the timespan of the entire microbial identification process, especially when surface enhancement techniques are required to obtain low-noise data, which significantly increases the duration of the experiment [17].…”

Low-Cost Internet-of-Things Water-Quality Monitoring System for Rural Areas

“…This means that these lives are endangered, contaminated water being tightly connected with the transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, type-A hepatitis, typhoid fever, dysentery, and polio. Diarrhea causes approximately 500,000 deaths each year [2,3]. In addition to this, contaminated water or water which has inadequate characteristics represents a main factor for the triggering or worsening of kidney diseases.…”