Overview of Raman Spectroscopy: Fundamental to Applications
165
sculpture [154, 155], glass [156], manuscripts [157], and rock art [158]. Raman
spectroscopy is now so effective in art and archaeology that there have been recent
reviews of available instruments applied to measurements outside the laboratory by
prominent researchers in this area [155, 159, 160]. Archaeological soils are causally
correlated with the presence of biochar with a high carbon accumulation potential
and nutrient adsorption. To obtain structural details and distinguish alterations in
biochar particles, the Sousa group implemented Raman spectroscopy and verified
that biochar persistence in the atmosphere is due to its graphite composition [161].
Estalayo et al. carried out a study on a shipwreck belonging to the second half of the
fifteenth century, which was found by chance in 1998 in the sediments of the Urdaibai
estuary, in Urbieta (Gernika, Basque Country), 4 m underground [162]. Researchers
conducted Raman spectroscopy here to ascertain the origin of the shipwreck and
found that the presence of zinc in the pieces suggests a major effect of the polluted
sediments deposited over the last 80 years on the upper part of the burial in which the
shipwreck was situated. Lately, Raman spectroscopy was used in combination with
the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the pigments from the Ptolemaic
period on an Egyptian cartonnage (305–30 BC) by Guard et al. [163]. The authors
found that Raman spectroscopy classified the minerals associated with each pigment
and reported the presence of cinnabar (α-HgS) in the red part of the sample, while
a mixture of orpiment (As 2 S 3 ) and probably bonazziite (β-As 4 S 4 ) and/or alacránite
(As 8 S 9 ) were detected in the fragments’ yellow-colored regions. Ozán et al. also
used the utility of Raman spectroscopy to improve the study of ancient paintings in
experimental rock art [164].
4.3 Forensic Science
A justification for exploring its use in forensic science has been the recent technical
developments in Raman spectroscopy. Hence, this segment summarizes recent findings in Raman spectroscopy concerning forensic science. The areas discussed in this
section are involved among other topics: explosives, drug abuse, body fluids, and
document examination.
4.3.1 Raman Spectroscopy of Body Fluids for Forensic Applications
Advances in forensic science have contributed significantly to better criminal investigation in general, and in particular to the identification of criminals and evidence.
Effective detection of bodily fluids in crime scenes is crucial to forensic investigations, as they provide critical pieces of DNA evidence leading to the eventual
prosecution and criminal justice resolution. Raman spectroscopy is, therefore, an
effective tool for detecting and differentiating body fluid, among other possible environmental inferences. Boyd et al. investigated Raman scattering from human blood
as a function of parameters important for forensic field research, such as substrate,
165
sculpture [154, 155], glass [156], manuscripts [157], and rock art [158]. Raman
spectroscopy is now so effective in art and archaeology that there have been recent
reviews of available instruments applied to measurements outside the laboratory by
prominent researchers in this area [155, 159, 160]. Archaeological soils are causally
correlated with the presence of biochar with a high carbon accumulation potential
and nutrient adsorption. To obtain structural details and distinguish alterations in
biochar particles, the Sousa group implemented Raman spectroscopy and verified
that biochar persistence in the atmosphere is due to its graphite composition [161].
Estalayo et al. carried out a study on a shipwreck belonging to the second half of the
fifteenth century, which was found by chance in 1998 in the sediments of the Urdaibai
estuary, in Urbieta (Gernika, Basque Country), 4 m underground [162]. Researchers
conducted Raman spectroscopy here to ascertain the origin of the shipwreck and
found that the presence of zinc in the pieces suggests a major effect of the polluted
sediments deposited over the last 80 years on the upper part of the burial in which the
shipwreck was situated. Lately, Raman spectroscopy was used in combination with
the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to study the pigments from the Ptolemaic
period on an Egyptian cartonnage (305–30 BC) by Guard et al. [163]. The authors
found that Raman spectroscopy classified the minerals associated with each pigment
and reported the presence of cinnabar (α-HgS) in the red part of the sample, while
a mixture of orpiment (As 2 S 3 ) and probably bonazziite (β-As 4 S 4 ) and/or alacránite
(As 8 S 9 ) were detected in the fragments’ yellow-colored regions. Ozán et al. also
used the utility of Raman spectroscopy to improve the study of ancient paintings in
experimental rock art [164].
4.3 Forensic Science
A justification for exploring its use in forensic science has been the recent technical
developments in Raman spectroscopy. Hence, this segment summarizes recent findings in Raman spectroscopy concerning forensic science. The areas discussed in this
section are involved among other topics: explosives, drug abuse, body fluids, and
document examination.
4.3.1 Raman Spectroscopy of Body Fluids for Forensic Applications
Advances in forensic science have contributed significantly to better criminal investigation in general, and in particular to the identification of criminals and evidence.
Effective detection of bodily fluids in crime scenes is crucial to forensic investigations, as they provide critical pieces of DNA evidence leading to the eventual
prosecution and criminal justice resolution. Raman spectroscopy is, therefore, an
effective tool for detecting and differentiating body fluid, among other possible environmental inferences. Boyd et al. investigated Raman scattering from human blood
as a function of parameters important for forensic field research, such as substrate,