title: Raman spectroscopic detection for perchlorate at low concentrations.
abstract: Perchlorate (ClO4-) has recently emerged as a widespread environmental contaminant found in groundwater and surface water, and there is a great need for rapid detection and monitoring of this contaminant. In this study, we explore the use of surface-enhanced (SERS) and normal Raman spectroscopy for detecting ClO4- at low concentrations. We found that ClO4- is SERS active and, for the first time, were able to detect ClO4- at concentrations as low as 10(-6)-10(-7) M (or 10-100 microg/L) through the application of silver SERS substrates or selective sorbents such as bifunctional anion-exchange resins. The use of selective sorbents greatly enhanced the reproducibility and sensitivity of ClO4- detection by normal Raman spectroscopy. Further exploration and research may allow application of these techniques for in situ, real-time detection and monitoring of ClO4- in environmental samples at even lower concentrations.
authors.affiliation: Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA. gub1@ornl.gov
authors.forename: Baohua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tio
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yee-Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dai
mesh_terms: D010472:Perchlorates / Q000032:analysis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017670:Sodium Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010472:Perchlorates; D017670:Sodium Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C031068:sodium perchlorate