Reaction monitoring Raman techniques

A tunable pulsed laser Raman spectrometer for time resolved Raman studies of radiation-chemical processes is described. This apparatus utilizes the state of art optical multichannel detection and a-nalysis techniques for data acquisition and electron pulse radiolysis for initiating the reactions. By using this technique the resonance Raman spectra of intermediates with absorption spectra in the 248-900 nm region, and mean lifetimes > 30 ns can be examined. This apparatus can be used to time resolve the vibrational spectral o-verlap between transients absorbing in the same region, and to follow their decay kinetics by monitoring the well resolved Raman peaks. For kinetic measurements at millisecond time scale, the Raman technique is preferable over optical absorption method where low frequency noise is quite bothersome. A time resolved Raman study of the pulse radiolytic oxidation of aqueous tetrafluoro-hydroquinone and p-methoxyphenol is briefly discussed. 

Because of the limitations in using mid-IR fibres, fundamental in-process spectroscopy will remain limited and dependent on special probes (ATR, transmission, etc.), near-IR and Raman are mid-IR rivals. The present development of NIR spectrometers offers several advantages compared to the mid-IR technique, e.g. faster measurements and easier sample treatment. It appears that in-process mid-IR spectroscopy is more geared towards reaction monitoring on the other hand, NIR spectroscopy plays a prime role for industrial on-line analysis (more general). 

Since the mid-1990s, there has been plenty of activity regarding the use of spectroscopic techniques for on-line evaluation of polymer properties [143-146]. This has been possible due to the recent development of fiber-optic probes, which allow in-situ measurements in remote and harsh environments (high temperatures, pressures, toxic environments, and so on). An additional advantage is that a fiber-optic probe can be installed in an existing reactor within a short time without expensive modifications. Fluorescent, ultraviolet (UV), infrared (IR), near-infrared (NIR), mid-infrared (MIR) and Raman spectroscopic techniques can be used for polymerization reaction monitoring. These can be divided between absorption- and emission-based techniques. IR, NIR, and MIR are absorption-based. 

Indeed, time-resolved resonance Raman (TR ) spectroscopy has been successfully employed to study the structure and dynamics of many short-lived molecular species and is the topic of a separate chapter by D. L. Phillips in this book. Like TR spectroscopy, TRIR spectroscopy gives one the ability to monitor directly both the structure and dynamics of the reactants, intermediates, and products of photochemical reactions. The time-resolved Raman and IR experiments, along with their transient UV-VIS absorption predecessor, are of course all complementary, and a combination of these techniques can give a very detailed picture of a photochemical reaction. 

Many of the characterization techniques described in this chapter require ambient or vacuum conditions, which may or may not be translatable to operational conditions. In situ or in opemndo characterization avoids such issues and can provide insight and information under more realistic conditions. Such approaches are becoming more common in X-ray adsorption spectroscopy (XAS) methods ofXANES and EXAFS, in NMR and in transmission electron microscopy where environmental instruments and cells are becoming common. In situ MAS NMR has been used to characterize reaction intermediates, organic deposits, surface complexes and the nature of transition state and reaction pathways. The formation of alkoxy species on zeolites upon adsorption of olefins or alcohols have been observed by C in situ and ex situ NMR [253]. Sensitivity enhancement techniques play an important role in the progress of this area. In operando infrared and RAMAN is becoming more widely used. In situ RAMAN spectroscopy has been used to online monitor synthesis of zeolites in pressurized reactors [254]. Such techniques will become commonplace. 

Infrared and Raman spectroscopy are nondestructive, quick and convenient techniques for monitoring the course of solid-phase reactions, and have therefore been widely used for the characterization of polymer supports and supported species [156-160]. In fact, the application of infrared spectroscopy in solid-phase synthesis has received much attention and has been the subject of several recent reviews [127, 128, 161-164]. Reactions involving either the appearance or disappearance of an IR-active functional group can be easily monitored using any of the IR techniques described in this section. Some beads are typically removed from the reaction mixture, then they are quickly washed and dried prior to IR analysis. Traditionally, polymer supports are diluted and ground with KBr, then conventional FT-IR analysis of the KBr disk is carried out Although this is a commonly used... 

Bauer et al. describe the use of a noncontact probe coupled by fiber optics to an FT-Raman system to measure the percentage of dry extractibles and styrene monomer in a styrene/butadiene latex emulsion polymerization reaction using PLS models [201]. Elizalde et al. have examined the use of Raman spectroscopy to monitor the emulsion polymerization of n-butyl acrylate with methyl methacrylate under starved, or low monomer [202], and with high soUds-content [203] conditions. In both cases, models could be built to predict multiple properties, including solids content, residual monomer, and cumulative copolymer composition. Another study compared reaction calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy for monitoring n-butyl acrylate/methyl methacrylate and for vinyl acetate/butyl acrylate, under conditions of normal and instantaneous conversion [204], Both techniques performed well for normal conversion conditions and for overall conversion estimate, but Raman spectroscopy was better at estimating free monomer concentration and instantaneous conversion rate. However, the authors also point out that in certain situations, alternative techniques such as calorimetry can be cheaper, faster, and often easier to maintain accurate models for than Raman spectroscopy, hi a subsequent article, Elizalde et al. found that updating calibration models after... 

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