TY - JOUR A1 - Putzu, Mara A1 - Barbaresi, Marta A1 - Fadda, Marta A1 - Sacco, Alessio A1 - Piergiovanni, Maurizio A1 - Masino, Matteo A1 - Bianchi, Federica A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Benismail, Nizar A1 - Coïc, Laureen A1 - Fenoglio, Ivana A1 - Mattarozzi, Monica A1 - Rossi, Andrea Mario A1 - Careri, Maria A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario T1 - Accuracy assessment of a micro-Raman spectroscopy method for small microplastic particles in infant milk formula N2 - The presence of microplastics (MPs) in the food chain is increasingly documented, raising concerns over potential risks to human health. Despite growing efforts, standardized methods for MPs detection in food matrices remain limited. This study presents an interlaboratory comparison (ILC) aimed at assessing the accuracy and comparability of an analytical approach for the identification and quantification of small MPs (5–100 μm) in infant milk powder using μ-Raman spectroscopy and a representative polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reference material (RM). The RM, formulated as water-soluble tablets, was designed to replicate the morphology, size distribution, and polymer composition of environmentally relevant MPs, and was previously assessed for homogeneity and stability for mass fraction and particle numbers. The approach was assessed using two PET RM batches with different MPs particle numbers (high load batch: 1759 ± 141 MPs; low load batch: 160 ± 22 MPs), subjected to an enzymatic–chemical digestion, followed by μ-Raman analysis performed independently in two laboratories with different instruments and operators. Results are reported as absolute particle counts per analyzed sample and demonstrated excellent recovery across all size classes, including the smallest particles (down to 5 μm), with recovery rates ranging from 82 % to 88 %, in good agreement with the RM reference values. The analytical approach proved to be robust, reproducible, and suitable for low-level MPs quantification in complex food matrices, supporting ongoing efforts toward method harmonization and standardization for reliable MPs monitoring in the food sector. KW - Microplastics KW - Milk KW - Raman microspectroscopy PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-646239 DO - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talo.2025.100586 SN - 2666-8319 VL - 12 SP - 1 EP - 8 PB - Elsevier B.V. AN - OPUS4-64623 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Miclea, Paul T1 - Microanalysis of Airborne Nano/Microplastic Particles in an Textile Industrial Environment N2 - Micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) are emerging global contaminants, present in air, soil, and water. The textile industry is potentially a major contributor, releasing synthetic particles like polyamide, polyester, and acrylic during production. This study assessed MNP levels outside and inside a textile-processing facility using online air samplers with silicon (Si) and quartz filters. Real-time particle counts (PM0.3–PM10) were obtained via a laser detector. Si filters (9 mm, 10/1 µm pores) and quartz filters (25 mm, 1.2 µm pores, pre-calcined at 800°C) were used for sampling. Custom holders allowed selective sampling for PM10 and PM1 on Si filters. Sampling conditions included a 3-hour collection at 2 L/min (GilAir Plus pump) starting at 7:00 AM (T1) and 2:00 PM (T2), with intermittent ventilation, 23.3 °C average temperature, and 52.5% humidity. Particle weights collected (µg) were: quartz – 4.9E-05 (T1), 5.1E-05 (T2); Si – 3.2E-05 (T1), 5E-06 (T2). Outside particle counts ranged from 3,584 (T1) to 15,165 (T2); inside: 9,901 (T1) to 12,921 (T2). Maximum indoor PM10 and PM0.3 levels were 72/m³ and 71,979/m³, respectively. Particles were analyzed using electron microscopy and µRaman spectroscopy, confirming high concentrations of irregularly shaped PP-based particles (1–5 µm). T2 - 12th TEXTEH CY - Bucharest, Romania DA - 23.10.2025 KW - Microplastics KW - Airborne particles KW - Raman microspectroscopy PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-64485 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Miclea, P.-T. T1 - Novel laser pre-structured silicon filters for microplastics analysis N2 - This research presents a novel laser-assisted approach to silicon filter fabrication, offering an effective alternative to traditional photolithographic processes. By integrating selective femtosecond laser irradiation with photoelectrochemical etching, we achieved precisely controlled pore geometries, overcoming common challenges in filter production for microplastic and nanoscale filtration suitable for microplastic number and mass analysis. T2 - SETAC Europe 2025 CY - Vienna, Austria DA - 11.05.2025 KW - Microplastics KW - Nanoplastics KW - Raman microspectroscopy PY - 2025 AN - OPUS4-63384 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fadda, Marta A1 - Sacco, Alessio A1 - Altmann, Korinna A1 - Ciornii, Dmitri A1 - Milczewski, Frank A1 - Bañares, Miguel A. A1 - Portela, Raquel A1 - Giovannozzi, Andrea Mario A1 - Rossi, Andrea Mario T1 - Tracking nanoplastics in drinking water: a new frontier with the combination of dielectrophoresis and Raman spectroscopy N2 - Detection of micro- (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in food and environmental matrices has been gaining relevance due to their potential toxicological effects on human health. While MPs have been detected in a wide range of complex matrices, suitable methods for the characterization and chemical identification of NPs are still lacking, primarily due to significant methodological challenges associated with their nano-specific physiochemical properties, including size distribution (1 nm – 1 µm), dynamic surface chemical changes, and carbon-based composition, which complicate their detection compared to engineered nanomaterials. To overcome the traditional limitations of spectroscopic techniques in terms of spatial resolution and sensitivity at the sub-micrometer level, a novel label-free methodology is presented for specifically identifying the chemical composition of NPs directly in suspension by combining Raman spectroscopy with dielectrophoresis (DEP). Using a custom-built device, small volumes of NPs are injected into a dielectrophoretic cell and locally trapped by DEP forces to fill the Raman confocal volume, facilitating their detection and identification, and providing high signal-to-noise ratio Raman spectra for more reliable analysis. This approach was successfully applied to both Milli-Q water and a commercial brand of drinking water, enabling the rapid identification of various types of NPs with different sizes and polymer compositions at concentrations as low as 20 µg/mL. These included certified reference polystyrene beads ranging from 800 to 60 nm in diameter, as well as polydisperse NPs, more representative of real samples in terms of size distribution and polymer type, such as polyethylene (450 nm), polypropylene (180 nm), and polyethylene terephthalate (100 nm). Moreover, the chemical fingerprint of each NPs was thoroughly investigated and compared with the corresponding bulk polymers, highlighting possible changes in the Raman bands due to surface oxidation or nanometer-scale effect. Therefore, this innovative method can be considered a valuable approach for addressing gaps in the detection and identification of NPs, as well as for monitoring their dynamic phisiochemical changes in real matrices. KW - Nanoplastics KW - Water contaminants KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Dielectrophoresis PY - 2025 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-633658 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00131-y SN - 2662-4966 VL - 5 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 11 PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC AN - OPUS4-63365 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - CONF A1 - Schmid, Thomas T1 - Raman microspectroscopy elucidates Early Medieval art technology: high-fired gypsum mortar and Egyptian blue from the church St. Peter above Gratsch (South Tyrol, Northern Italy) N2 - Raman microspectroscopy enables imaging of the distributions of mineral phases as well as physical properties of materials, such as crystal orientations and crystallinities, with down to sub-micrometre resolution. In a combination with other spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, this approach was applied to the analysis and elucidation of ancient production technologies of stucco fragments made of high-fired gypsum mortar and Egyptian blue pigment discovered on a monochrome wall painting fragment originating from the Early Medieval (5th/6th century AD) construction phase of the church St. Peter above Gratsch in South Tyrol (Northern Italy). T2 - Analytica Conference 2022 CY - Munich, Germany DA - 21.06.2022 KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Gypsum KW - Pigments PY - 2022 AN - OPUS4-55896 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dariz, P. A1 - Schmid, Thomas T1 - Raman focal point on Roman Egyptian blue elucidates disordered cuprorivaite, green glass phase and trace compounds N2 - The discussed comparative analyses of Roman Imperial pigment balls and fragmentary murals unearthed in the ancient cities of Aventicum and Augusta Raurica (Switzerland) by means of Raman microspectroscopy pertain to a predecessor study on trace compounds in Early Medieval Egyptian blue (St. Peter, Gratsch, South Tyrol, Northern Italy). The plethora of newly detected associated minerals of the raw materials surviving the synthesis procedure validate the use of quartz sand matching the composition of sediments transported by the Volturno river into the Gulf of Gaeta (Campania, Southern Italy) with a roasted sulphidic copper ore and a mixed-alkaline plant ash as fluxing agent. Thus, the results corroborate a monopolised pigment production site located in the northern Phlegrean Fields persisting over the first centuries A.D., this in line with statements of the antique Roman writers Vitruvius and Pliny the Elder and recent archaeological evidences. Beyond that, Raman spectra reveal through gradual peak shifts and changes of band width locally divergent process conditions and compositional inhomogeneities provoking crystal lattice disorder in the chromophoric cuprorivaite as well as the formation of a copper-bearing green glass phase, the latter probably in dependency of the concentration of alkali flux, notwithstanding that otherwise solid-state reactions predominate the synthesis. KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Egyptian blue KW - Cuprorivaite PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-559028 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-19923-w SN - 2045-2322 VL - 12 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Nature Publishing Group CY - London AN - OPUS4-55902 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dariz, P. A1 - Wortmann, U. G. A1 - Vogl, Jochen A1 - Schmid, Thomas T1 - Beautiful Pietàs in South Tyrol (Northern Italy): local or imported works of art? N2 - The study, dedicated to Beautiful Pietàs conserved in South Tyrol (Northern Italy), aims to establish, for the first time, a connection between Austroalpine raw materials and the high-fired gypsum mortars constituting the Gothic figure groups in question. The origin and chronology of this stylistically and qualitatively differing ensemble have been subject of art historical debate for nearly a century. The discourse is dominated by three main hypotheses: itinerary of an Austrian artist versus itinerary of the work of art created in an artist’s workshop in Austria versus itinerary of the stylistic vocabulary via graphical or three-dimensional models. The comparison of the δ34S values and the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of the gypsum mortars and Austroalpine sulphate deposits (in a compilation of own reference samples and literature data) points to the exploitation of sediments in the Salzkammergut and possibly also in the evaporite district of the Eastern Calcareous Alps, thus evidencing the import of the sculptures and not the activities of local South Tyrolean or itinerant artists. Two geochronological units are distinguishable: The Pietà in the Church St. Martin in Göflan can be assigned to Upper Permian raw material, whereas the metrologically consistent sculptures in the Church of Our Lady of the Benedictine Abbey Marienberg and in the Chapel St. Ann in Mölten correlate with deposits of the Early Triassic (or the Lower-Middle Triassic transition). The medieval gypsum mortars also differ in their mineralogical characteristics, i.e. in their geologically related minor components, as in the first case, characterised by a significant proportion of primary anhydrite, natural carbonate impurities mainly consist of calcite (partly converted to lime-lump-like aggregates), whereas in the second group dolomite (or rather its hydration products after pyrometamorphic decomposition) predominates, accompanied by celestine, quartz and potassium feldspar. The Pietà in the Cathedral Maria Himmelfahrt in Bozen turned out to be made of Breitenbrunn calcareous sandstone (Leitha Mountains, Burgenland, Austria), which is why the sample is not considered in the geochemical analysis. KW - High-fired gypsum mortar KW - Sulphur isotope KW - Strontium isotope KW - Polarised light microscopy KW - Raman microspectroscopy PY - 2022 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-545610 DO - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40494-022-00678-6 SN - 2050-7445 VL - 10 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 17 PB - Springer Nature AN - OPUS4-54561 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dariz, P. A1 - Schmid, Thomas T1 - Trace compounds in Early Medieval Egyptian blue carry information on provenance, manufacture, application, and ageing N2 - Only a few scientific evidences for the use of Egyptian blue in Early Medieval wall paintings in Central and Southern Europe have been reported so far. The monochrome blue fragment discussed here belongs to the second church building of St. Peter above Gratsch (South Tyrol, Northern Italy, fifth/ sixth century A.D.). Beyond cuprorivaite and carbon black (underpainting), 26 accessory minerals down to trace levels were detected by means of Raman microspectroscopy, providing unprecedented insights into the raw materials blend and conversion reactions during preparation, application, and ageing of the pigment. In conjunction with archaeological evidences for the manufacture of Egyptian blue in Cumae and Liternum and the concordant statements of the antique Roman writers Vitruvius and Pliny the Elder, natural impurities of the quartz sand speak for a pigment produced at the northern Phlegrean Fields (Campania, Southern Italy). Chalcocite (and chalcopyrite) suggest the use of a sulphidic copper ore, and water-insoluble salts a mixed-alkaline flux in the form of plant ash. Not fully reacted quartz crystals partly intergrown with cuprorivaite and only minimal traces of silicate glass portend solid-state reactions predominating the chemical reactions during synthesis, while the melting of the raw materials into glass most likely played a negligible role. KW - Egyptian blue KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Spectoscopic imaging KW - Cuprorivaite KW - Amorphous carbon PY - 2021 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-537591 DO - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-90759-6 VL - 11 SP - 1 EP - 12 PB - Nature Portfolio AN - OPUS4-53759 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR ED - Schmid, Thomas ED - Dariz, P. T1 - Special issue: Modern Raman spectroscopy of minerals N2 - Dear Colleagues, Raman spectroscopy provides vibrational fingerprints of chemical compounds, enabling their identification via a comparison with reference spectra. This analytical tool has high potential not only in the identification of minerals from natural sources but also for studying the complex microstructure and mineral distribution of both ancient and modern man-made materials, ranging from, e.g., historical ceramics and mortars to modern solar cell materials. In addition to the chemical identity of minerals, Raman spectra are affected by crystal orientations, substoichiometric to stoichiometric compositional changes (e.g., in solid solution series), traces of foreign ions, stress, strain, and crystallinity, enabling a comprehensive physicochemical characterisation of minerals. This Special Issue includes method developments and applications in the field of modern Raman spectroscopy of minerals in a broad sense, from natural mineral deposits to inorganic phases in materials; covers both spectroscopic and imaging studies; and provides a platform for discussing the possibilities and limits of the technique in the context of the existing analytical arsenal. Thomas Schmid Petra Dariz KW - Analytical sciences KW - Raman spectroscopy KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Mineral identification KW - Mineral paragenesis PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-519117 UR - https://www.mdpi.com/journal/minerals/special_issues/Raman_Spectroscopy_Minerals VL - 10 SP - 1 EP - 156 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-51911 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Schmid, Thomas A1 - Dariz, P. T1 - Editorial for the special issue "Modern Raman spectroscopy of minerals" N2 - Raman spectroscopy provides vibrational fingerprints of chemical compounds enabling their unambiguous identification. The assignment of Raman spectra to minerals is straightforward, if appropriate reference data is accessible. Modern couplings of Raman spectroscopy with microscopy (Raman microspectroscopy) merge the high structural specificity with down to sub-micrometre spatial resolution. This analytical tool has high potential not only in the identification of minerals from natural sources but also for studying the complex microstructure and mineral distribution of both ancient and modern man-made materials. In addition to the chemical identity of minerals, Raman spectra are affected by crystal orientations (varying relative Raman band intensities); (sub)stoichiometric compositional changes (e.g., in solid solution series), traces of foreign ions, strain (the latter three shifting Raman bands); and crystallinity (changing Raman band widths), enabling a comprehensive physico-chemical characterisation of minerals. Thus, Raman spectroscopy – including its in situ measurement capabilities – provides possibilities to study mineral paragenesis in both, natural and man-made samples at the micrometre scale. While in 1928 the first experimental evidence for inelastic light scattering was provided by C. V. Raman and K. S. Krishnan by using sunlight for excitation, filters for selecting the inelastically scattered light, and their eyes for detection (later, photographic plates for acquisition of spectra were employed), modern Raman spectrometers make use of laser excitation, dispersive spectrographs and charge coupled device (CCD) detection. This Special Issue includes technological developments and applications in the field of modern Raman spectroscopy of minerals in a broad sense, from natural mineral deposits and archaeological objects to inorganic phases in man-made materials. The studied minerals include fossil resins, typical rock-forming minerals (calcite, quartz, forsterite), iron-sulphur species (e.g., mackinawite), a range of sulphates (gypsum, bassanite, anhydrite III, anhydrite II, celestine, barite, ternesite), as well as silicate minerals like garnets (e.g., almandine). KW - Raman spectroscopy KW - Raman microspectroscopy KW - Mineral identification KW - Physico-chemical characterisation of minerals KW - Mineral paragenesis PY - 2020 UR - https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:kobv:b43-515041 DO - https://doi.org/10.3390/min10100860 VL - 10 SP - 860 PB - MDPI CY - Basel AN - OPUS4-51504 LA - eng AD - Bundesanstalt fuer Materialforschung und -pruefung (BAM), Berlin, Germany ER -