White Paper: Technology Comparison: FTIR, NIR, And Raman For Raw Material Inspection

The collection of analytical techniques known as "vibrational spectroscopy" consists of three main tools, namely Mid-infrared or more commonly Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR); Near-Infrared (NIR), and Raman spectroscopy. Each has strengths and limitations, making them complementary tools for the analysis of pharmaceutical materials. FTIR, the historical work horse of analytical laboratories, is well-known for its molecular selectivity and resulting performance in raw materials analysis. However, due to the fragile nature of presently available instruments and the complications associated with contact sampling and preparation, FTIR raw materials analysis is currently restricted to the laboratory. The desire to monitor the physical form of some raw materials and take analysis from the lab to the sample has spurred the growing adoption of cartable NIR systems. However, NIR's poorer selectivity and the impact of physical attributes such as particle size, packing density and moisture on results pose a significant practical challenge for cost-effective implementation of the technique. Emerging from recent advances in hardware miniaturization and embedded analysis is handheld Raman spectroscopy, a technique that combines many of the favorable attributes of FTIR and NIR. Excellent selectivity, rapid analysis, and unparalleled portability of the TruScan™ Raman instrument, for instance, now make handheld identification of raw materials at the loading dock a reality.