Experimental - Spectroscopy

10 Spectroscopy 26(6) June 2011
News Spectrum
New Forensic Laser Technique
Locks Hair in Time
Jim Moran, a geochemist at the Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory (Richland, Washington), led a team of
researchers in the development of a new laser-powered
chemical analysis technique that can take dozens of
samples from a single strand of hair and distinguish the
chemical signatures of each.
Because existing methods destroy small samples, they
don’t allow for exact time-based measurements. Using the
new technique, which breaks up material instead of scorching
it, carbon isotope measurements from human hair can be
taken over time, revealing information about what people ate,
whether they’ve traveled, and where they’ve been.
The technique is described in detail in a paper published
by Moran and his team in the April 12 issue of Rapid
Communications in Mass Spectrometry.
“The carbon you eat goes into your hair, so hair is a
record of carbon ratios. If you’ve been traveling, I could
guess which countries you’ve been to or what you
ate,” Moran said in a Wired online article, indicating
that forensic scientists should find the technique
useful. Biologists exploring food pathways in microbes,
and paleontologists using carbon-based data to look
at ancient environments may also find value in the
technique.
www.spectroscopyonline.com
In addition to carbon sampling, the laser-ablation
system may also work with other chemical isotopes,
including nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur as Moran’s team is
working on developing those applications.
Research Funding Finds Friends
in Gingrich, Bernanke
In today’s difficult economic times, Americans may
be surprised to hear former speaker of the House and
potential Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich
argue for increased spending on medical and scientific
research. In doing so, he contradicts fellow GOP leader,
Paul Ryan, chairman of the House Budget Committee,
who would cut spending in these areas.
According to a Wall Street Journal article, Gingrich, whose
mother was bipolar, is a strong supporter of brain research.
At a Brookings Institution conference on April 22, he said that
while he applauds Ryan’s “courageous effort” to “right-size”
government, he disagrees with some of the details.
“One of them is cutting investment in science and research,”
Gingrich said at the conference. “It’s essentially like saying
I want to save money on your car (so) we’re not going to
change the oil. And for about a year I can get away with it, then
the engine will freeze, and we have to change the engine.”
President Obama, in his Plan for Science and Innovation,
issued in February, called for doubling the budgets of
Market Profile: Process FT-NIR for PAT in Pharma and Biopharma
Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR)
spectroscopy continues to be a rapidly growing
process analytical technique, particularly in
the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industry.
The technique offers a number of advantages
for online applications, and most of the major
NIR instrument vendors now compete in this
segment of the market.
FT-NIR spectrometers make
use of a simpler mechanical
design than dispersive NIR
instruments, and therefore
provide a more rugged
and reliable design that is
advantageous in any industrial
setting, including pharmaceutical
and biopharmaceutical
manufacturing. In addition,
7%
5% 5%
7%
14%
20%
FT-NIR provides simultaneous analysis
of all frequencies in the spectrum range, rather
than scanning individual wavelengths. FT-NIR is also
capable of much higher resolution than dispersive
instruments, which is important in the pharmaceutical
and biopharmaceutical industry.
43%
FT-NIR is becoming increasingly popular for
process analytical technology (PAT) and other
online applications in the pharmaceutical and
biopharmaceutical industry, such as monitoring
drying and blending processes. The global market
for process FT-NIR in the pharmaceutical and
biopharmaceutical industry in 2010 was more than $21
million, and it is expected to continue to see annual
Bruker
Thermo Scientific
ABB
AIT
Buchi
Yokogawa
Other
Biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical process FT-NIR
vendor share in 2010.
growth in the mid-teens for the
foreseeable future. At least a half
dozen instrument vendors are
significant competitors in the
market.
The foregoing data were
extracted from SDi’s market
analysis and perspectives
report entitled Biotech &
Pharmaceutical Process Analysis:
PAT Instrumentation and More, March 2011. For more
information, contact Stuart Press, Vice President,
Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242
Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA
90045, (310) 641-4982, fax: (310) 641-8851,
www.strategic-directions.com.