Mid-IR optical spectroscopy for analytics
Current lack of a viable technique to monitor blood plasma levels is a critical safety concern as over 100 million people undergo surgery under general anaesthesia. Scientists of the project 'Middle-infrared optical spectroscopy for anaesthetic agent and carbon isotope analysis' (MOSAIC) used the middle-infrared spectral range in CRDS to develop innovative analytical instrumentation. For clinical application, CRDS was designed to operate at about 3 micrometre wavelength for propofol studies. For light source with mid-IR wavelengths, researchers intend to use a compact distributed feedback semiconductor laser. This set-up is currently under construction. Project research is also applicable to monitoring fossil to modern carbon ratio and to detect leaks in carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems. MOSAIC designed a CRD spectrophotometer for operation at 4.5 micrometre wavelength for CCS applications and successfully completed construction of the first test set-up. Test results revealed that this set-up is capable of achieving desired sensitivity levels for enriched C-14 samples. Further research on these topics is ongoing through other research collaborations despite the end of this project. Such activities should realise the development of suitable techniques for exhaled breath diagnostics and C-14 isotope measurements in the near future.
