A hyperspectral Raman imaging systems for process analytical technology developments

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A hyperspectral Raman imaging system is requested in this RTI proposal. It will support the research programs of 5 co-applicants located in 2 Canadian universities. The co-applicants need hyperspectral imaging equipment to develop innovative process analytical technologies (PAT) for real-time process monitoring and product quality control in important fields for the Canadian economy: advanced materials, energy and oil sands, CO2 capture technology, bio-energy and bio-based products, and pharmaceutical production. The applicants have reached the limit of the Near Infrared Chemical Imaging (NIR-CI) equipment they have been using in most of their collaborative research projects. There are three main issues with the current NIR-CI system: 1) it is highly sensitive to moisture adsorbed on surfaces, which interferes with the quantification of compounds of interest, 2) it is insensitive to inorganic compounds, 3) the spatial resolution of the chemical images is too low to achieve the desired limit of detection. NIR spectroscopy is based on photon absorption by polar molecular groups whereas Raman is based on inelastic scattering of radiations by symmetrical (non-polar) functional groups. This makes both methods complementary; molecules that cannot be detected with one method can be easily detected with the other. The Raman system will provide a more specific fingerprint of the materials allowing to discriminate classes of molecules and inorganic compounds, in particular. It will allow increasing the spatial resolution of the chemical images with respect to NIR (i.e. lower detection limit) which is required in most of the projects. Raman is also insensitive to water, which is a common interferent (moisture adsorbed on material surfaces) strongly affecting the NIR spectrum. The Raman equipment will provide further development and foster innovation in the collaborative research programs led by the co-applicants. It will also be used for training a significant number highly qualified personnel in these fields.