Raman spectroscopy has been used to analyze inorganics in a variety of applications. One of the better-known applications in this realm is the ability of Raman to distinguish different grades of TiO₂ (rutile versus anatase), which have different values based on use cases. Tornado has experience in the realm of inorganic analysis. Interests in such applications are often in mining but also other deployment situations. The analysis of carbonates has been one prominent area in which Raman has shown to be valuable. The analysis of carbonate can be done in various processes, including carbonate to bicarbonate ratios and other potentially important measurements. Different carbonate salts with different counterions can also often be distinguished in solid materials. Other inorganics that can be measured with Raman include nitrates (important in fertilizers and other uses), nitrites, phosphates, sulfates, chlorates, perchlorates, cyano compounds, certain oxides, various transition metal species and many others. Tornado Raman spectroscopy based analyzers add value to monitoring and controlling processes that involve materials of this sort. The quantitative limits-of-detection capability of Raman for these applications has often been found to be in the single- and double-digit ppm levels. See the following application notes to read about how Tornado Raman was used in the measurement of LiCO₃ (important in Li battery production) and perchlorate (important in various industrial processes).

Tornado’s Raman spectrometers with revolutionary technology exhibit an exceptional signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) compared to conventional Raman spectrometers, driven by the patented High Throughput Virtual Slit (HTVS^TM) technology. This facilitates in-line, real-time process measurements of analytes with exceptionally low concentrations. As a demonstration of this, we show the measurement of sodium perchlorate with a Limit of Detection (LoD) of less than 3 parts per million (ppm), the lowest detection limit yet seen on this device as of the time of this writing. The ability of the Tornado Raman spectrometer to accurately and reproducibly measure perchlorate allows it to be used with confidence to detect and quantify perchlorate as a contaminant at low levels.