Survey of current state and probable directions of development of research activity internationally in analytical spectrometry

Analytical spectrometry covers a very wide variety of analytical activities and it is clearly going to be difficult to define accurately all of the future research directions. However there are some areas, which will definitely be important globally and to our group within ARNAS.

Safeguarding health and consumer goods: The analysis of total element content and speciation of foodstuffs, drugs, export products and environmental matrices, etc., is vital for ensuring the health and wellbeing and economic prosperity of Australia.  Analytical spectroscopy through the use of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS), atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and fluorescence is essential for these analyses.

Forensics and combating terrorism: This is likely to be a very significant area over the next few years.  A smarter, more innovative and more systematic use of science is the goal.  Potential projects include the application of fluorescence spectroscopy to trace analysis; portable spectroscopic techniques; applications of chemical imaging; Raman spectroscopy for fibre analysis and for trace explosive detection; application of chemometrics.

Biological and medical applications:  This area has been growing for some years.  In particular the field of spectropathology, the replacement of ‘expert’ pathologists by objective spectroscopic techniques, will continue to be an important area of research.  The significant applications are disease detection in tissues by chemical imaging (infra red and Raman); the application of near infra red emission spectroscopy which is potentially a very powerful technique.

Proteomics: Analytical spectrometry contributes to this area by providing techniques to determine rapidly, for example, whether protein binding has occurred. By the use of protein arrays rapid bioassays can be developed.  Fluorescence, UV-vis, and Raman spectroscopies may contribute here.

Portable instrumentation: The development of smaller, cheaper and rugged portable spectroscopic instruments is a significant goal of worldwide research.  Such instruments may potentially be sent to Mars, be used at crime scenes or as explosive detectors at airports, or applied to on-line measurements in manufacturing.

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