Metrohm i-Raman Plus Fiber Optic Raman spectrometer

Importance of the Topic

Raman spectroscopy provides a rapid, non-destructive and label-free analytical approach capable of molecular fingerprinting across a wide array of materials.
This portability and high sensitivity make it essential for applications ranging from cultural heritage studies to pharmaceutical quality control and environmental monitoring.

Objectives and Study Overview

The primary aim of the document is to present the i-Raman® Plus system as a field-ready, high-resolution fiber-optic Raman spectrometer.
It outlines its performance specifications, sampling accessories, and integrated software to demonstrate how it supports both qualitative identification and quantitative analysis in real-world scenarios.

Methodology and Instrumentation

The i-Raman Plus deploys dual excitation options at 532 nm (30–42 mW) and 785 nm (340–455 mW) with fine power control.
A high quantum-efficiency CCD array detector cooled to –2 °C enables extended integration times up to 30 minutes, enhancing detection of weak Raman signals.
Spectral coverage spans from 65 cm–1 to 4 200 cm–1, with resolutions down to 3.5 cm–1, supporting detailed structural elucidation.
Sampling is facilitated by a fiber-optic probe, cuvette holder, video microscope, and an XYZ probe-positioning stage.
Accessory packages offer immersion probes, flow cells, and long-working-distance lenses.

Key Results and Discussion

Performance testing demonstrates an improved signal-to-noise ratio under prolonged integration, reliable laser stabilization via patented technology, and rapid switchable excitation wavelengths.
The small footprint (16.9 × 33.3 × 24.2 cm) and low power consumption allow deployment in constrained environments.
Integration with proprietary BWIQ® chemometrics software streamlines multivariate model development using PLS, PCA and SVM algorithms.
BWSpec® and BWID® platforms ensure seamless data acquisition, real-time peak analysis, material verification, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance for regulated settings.

Benefits and Practical Applications

The system’s versatility supports disciplines such as:

• Art and archaeology: in-situ pigment and material mapping
• Bioscience and medical diagnostics: label-free biochemical profiling
• Pharmaceutical quality control: rapid API identification and quantitation
• Environmental analysis: pollutant detection in air, soil and water
• Forensic investigations: narcotics and trace evidence examination
• Semiconductor and solar industries: process control and material verification

Key advantages include plug-and-play sampling accessories, portable high-resolution performance, and user-friendly interfaces suitable for both expert and novice operators.

Future Trends and Opportunities

Emerging directions encompass integration with cloud-based data management and AI-driven spectral interpretation, further miniaturization for handheld platforms, and expanded use of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates to push sensitivity limits.
Advancements in fiber-optic materials and detector technology promise deeper cooling and even broader spectral windows.
Integration with process analytical technology (PAT) for real-time manufacturing control and field-deployable environmental monitoring networks represent high-impact use cases.

Conclusion

The i-Raman® Plus system demonstrates that high-performance Raman spectroscopy can transcend the laboratory, delivering research-grade capabilities in a compact, low-power platform.
Its combination of sensitivity, spectral coverage, user-friendly software, and versatile sampling accessories positions it as a valuable tool for both routine analyses and advanced research applications.

References

B&W Tek, i-Raman® Plus Technical Overview, Document Revision: 280001231-K (2019)