Mobile Raman spectroscopy analysis of elephant ivory objects

Abstract

Raman spectroscopy has been applied to the nondestructive study of ivory artefacts. Molecular Raman spectra of this material have been recorded previously using Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy (1064-nm excitation), and attempts were made to differentiate between species of different origin. How- ever, few attempts have been made to examine this interesting material using dispersive Raman spectroscopy, as when using shorter wavelength excitation, the fluorescence background signal tends to overwhelm the Raman signal. In this study, however, a mobile fibre-optics Raman spectrometer, equipped with 1064-nm excitation and an InGaAs detector, was used for the direct analysis of ivory artefacts. This approach opens opportunities for the fast and reliable analysis of this material, without the need to move the artefact to the laboratory, helping to act against the illegal trade of this endangered biomaterial.