Portable Raman Spectrometer Technology Explanation 2: Identifying Hazardous Materials on Site [Technical Document]

Technical explanation document 2 on portable Raman spectrometers capable of rapidly detecting explosives remotely at fire scenes and identifying illegal drugs.

The hazardous materials and illegal drugs investigation team receives a call from the police and heads to investigate the foul odor emanating from an abandoned building on the outskirts of town. Even from outside the window, it is evident that the space is littered with garbage and broken glass bottles, suggesting at a glance that it was a secret laboratory contaminated with chemicals. Nevertheless, the field investigator must conduct an investigation to identify the cause while feeling a sense of danger to their safety. The unique tool the investigator possesses is about the size of a slightly larger mobile phone, featuring a zoom lens reminiscent of a camera, which is being sneaked through the broken window to focus on a white powder on a table one meter away. When the investigator presses the button, a red hazard alert is displayed, warning that the substance is sodium bisulfite. Sodium bisulfite is a chemical used in the process of manufacturing TNT explosives. This unique device is the latest portable Raman analyzer, Mira DS, from Metrohm, and the tool features an innovative stand-off attachment that allows for remote measurement from 1.5 meters away. The combination of this powerful tool ensures the investigator's safe operation and enables a reliable investigation.

Other inspection equipment and devicesRaman Spectrophotometer