February 25, 2000

"FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy in the Consulting Laboratory"
McCrone Associates
Westmont, Ilinois

FTIR and Raman Spectroscopy are powerful tools for determining the molecular composition of a variety of materials. When coupled with a microscope and used with proper sampling techniques, the resultant Raman / FTIR Microscope can provide molecular information for particles as small as 1-10 microns respectively. FTIR / Raman Microscopy aids in contaminant identification on circuit-boards, in pharmaceutical vials and tablets, and can also be used to verify the composition of materials. Art conservators use FTIR / Raman Microscopy in determining material composition and authenticity of works of art. Dr. Smith's presentation will include an introduction to FTIR and Raman Microscopy. Examples of the utility of both techniques will be presented through case studies.

Bio Sketch

Ken Smith received a B.S. in chemistry from Bradley University, in Peoria, Illinois in 1987 and Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 1992. His graduate work involved measuring low level carcinogenic materials in air using quartz crystal sensors and gas diffusion membrane techniques.

For the past seven years, Ken Smith has worked in the Chemistry group at McCrone Associates. His work at McCrone Associates has involved the use of FTIR microscopy, Raman microscopy, UV/VIS, HPLC, GC/MS, Ion chromatography, and of course optical microscopy. Work using FTIR and Raman has included analysis of pharmaceutical contaminants, illicit drugs, polymers and polymer defects, electronics contaminations, art objects and indoor air quality materials.

This year Ken will join the staff of teachers at McCrone Research Institute teaching the Advanced FTIR microscopy course with John Reffner and Anna Teetsov. He is a member of the Society for Applied Spectroscopy and the American Chemical Society.