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Micro‐Raman spectroscopy and VP‐SEM/EDS applied to the identification of mineral particles and fibres in histological sections
Author(s) -
Rinaudo Caterina,
Allegrina Mario,
Fornero Elisa,
Musa Maya,
Croce Alessandro,
Bellis Donata
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of raman spectroscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.748
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1097-4555
pISSN - 0377-0486
DOI - 10.1002/jrs.2403
Subject(s) - raman spectroscopy , scanning electron microscope , spectroscopy , energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy , mineral , chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , particle (ecology) , phase (matter) , mineralogy , materials science , composite material , chromatography , optics , geology , organic chemistry , physics , oceanography , quantum mechanics
Histological sections of a patient affected by an important respiratory disease were analysed firstly by optical microscope(OM)—crossed polarisers—to identify the presence of incorporated inorganic particles, with particular attention to the fibrous ones. Then, the particles/fibres that were found were studied both with micro‐Raman spectroscopy and variable‐pressure scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive spectroscopy (VP‐SEM/EDS). The two techniques allowed the in situ characterisation of the inorganic phases without disintegration of the organic matter. Micro‐Raman spectroscopy was able to identify the vibrating chemical groups of the mineral phase associated with the inorganic grain while the crystalline structure was preserved by the biological system. The VP‐SEM/EDS characterisation, defining the elemental chemical composition of the analysed particle/fibre, allowed confirmation of the mineral phase deducible from spectroscopic data or its identification with certainty when the spectroscopic data were not exhaustive. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.