Development of a low-cost Raman spectroscopy platform for high-throughput analysis

This study describes the development of a low-cost, high-throughput Raman spectroscopy platform for rapid sample analysis. The system consists of 3 main components: a CNC, a USB microscope and a Raman probe, providing a cheaper alternative to commercial systems. The platform combines automated particle coordinates identification with the microscope, followed by a Raman analysis to characterize the sample across a defined area. To validate the proposed system, polypropylene (PP) microplastics were scattered on a glass filter and subjected to the scan. The system scanned an area of 519.84 mm² in under 1 hour, detected 481 particles through the microscope and 170 of the spectra acquired with Raman, were identified as PP, demonstrating its capability as an efficient and cost-effective solution. Despite this, the proposed platform is versatile and can be used for different applications, namely when evaluating Raman sensitive coatings through a Raman map, for example on optical fibers.