ParticleFinder: Automated Particle Measurement, Identification and Classification using Raman Analysis

Automated Particle Measurement, Identification and Classification using Raman Analysis

ParticleFinder™ provides an integrated and customizable workflow for particle analysis.
It automatically detects particles, even on complex and patterned holders, analyzes them for size and shape descriptors, performs chemical characterization using Raman microscopy, and identifies them with a HQI (Hit Quality Index).
Offering fully automated multi-sample analysis, ParticleFinder generates comprehensive reports based on customizable templates, ensuring routine-ready microparticle analysis.

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Segment: Scientific

Division: Raman Spectroscopy

Manufacturing Company: HORIBA France SAS

ParticleFinder is compatible with any HORIBA Raman spectrometer equipped with LabSpec 6 software, a video camera and a motorized XY sample stage. With these requirements met, ParticleFinder’s Raman analysis can fully exploit the unique capabilities of HORIBA’s Raman systems to ensure the most appropriate chemical interrogation. This can range from routine identification of common particles and contaminants, to advanced characterization of polymorphism/phase, photoluminescence and stress/strain.

LabSpec 6 screenshot: Particle detection overlaid on white light optical image, with morphological and chemical characterization

How it works

The workflow for ParticleFinder is extremely simple and intuitive. The module is an integrated part of the powerful LabSpec 6 software, and is fully linked to related modules for data acquisition, processing, analysis, spectral identification and display.

1. Particle visualization

Simple processing of the sample optical image quickly locates the particles, creating a binary image which clearly highlights the particle positions. Full morphological filtering tools are included to ensure truly meaningful location. The optical image can cover any user-specified area, using the integrated video montage/mosaic tool, which allows millimeter or centimeter areas to be covered.

ParticleFinder automatically locates particles even on complex or patterned holders

2. Particle characterization

Once the particles are located, particle shape and size parameters are calculated for each particle, including a statistical summary. Histograms of the parameters (including area, perimeter, axes, ellipse ratio, circularity, and brightness) are available for easy visualization.

ParticleFinder calculates the shape and size of located particles and generates a statistical summary

3. Particle identification

Initially, all located particles are set for Raman analysis. However, they can be filtered according to the statistics results, allowing only particles which correspond to a specific size/shape to be analyzed. For example, only particles within a certain size range can be marked for Raman characterization.
Alternatively, ParticleFinder enables sample randomization to achieve statistically significant sample analysis while reducing overall analysis time.

The full capabilities of the Raman instrument can be utilized for the Raman acquisition stage, including choice of laser wavelength, spectral resolution, confocality and mapping. Such configurable experiments ensure that optimized results can be obtained from varying sample sets with ease. The Raman spectra are displayed in a table together with the statistical parameters.

ParticleFinder displays Raman spectra together with the statistical parameters

Once the Raman data has been acquired, it is automatically linked to the individual particles in the binary image. The spectra are now available to be processed, analyzed and displayed according to the full powerful functionality of LabSpec 6.

Spectra can be automatically identified using the fully integrated IDFinder app, particle-by-particle, with HQI (Hit Quality Index).

ParticleFinder automatically identifies spectra using the fully integrated IDFinder app, particle-by-particle, with HQI

Alternatively, the fully integrated Multivariate Analysis module can be used for automatic clustering and decomposition of the spectra.

4. Analysis and statistics

ParticleFinder generates statistics based on various morphological or chemical information, offering fully customizable histograms, scatter plots, or tables.
The spectral identification results are presented in the statistical table and directly overlaid on the video image of your sample, where each color corresponds to a different component.

ParticleFinder has a user-friendly interface showing particle identification images, spectra and statistics results in a single screen

5. Report

ParticleFinder enables the creation of comprehensive, multi-page report templates that can include histograms, images, tables, scatter plots, and more, along with company and sample-related information. These report templates are then utilized to generate automated reports for each analyzed sample.

ParticleFinder enables the creation of comprehensive, multi-page reports

Multi-sample automation

Set up all of your measurements for multiple samples at one time, using the HORIBA sample holders, or any multi-sample support.
ParticleFinder supports any design of sample holders fitting on the motorized stage, and provides fully automated measurements for 24/7 operation.

ParticleFinder performs simple, automated, and precise particle sample analysis, thus making research methods suitable for deployment in process labs.

HORIBA 10x10mm Silicon filter multi-sample holder

Particle Analysis with HORIBA

The ParticleFinder module for Raman spectrometers is one part of HORIBA’s expertise in particle analysis. HORIBA offers powerful, hassle-free tools for particle size, particle shape, zeta potential, and surface area analysis. Measurable particle size range starts at below 1 nanometer and goes up to 30 millimeters, at concentrations ranging from 1 ppm to 50 vol% with shape determination available starting at 1 micrometer. A range of technologies are employed, including laser diffraction, dynamic light scattering, and dynamic and static image analysis.

Automatic location of particles
Video montage/mosaic tool for large area analysis
Characterization of particle size and particle shape
Select particles according to particle size and particle shape
Automatic acquisition of Raman spectrum for each particle
Particle-by-particle spectral identification with IDFinder
Advanced particle clustering and decomposition tools with Multivariate Analysis
Full functionality of HORIBA’s “simply powerful” LabSpec 6, including complete data processing, analysis and display functionality.

Analysis of Morphology and Chemical Identification of Pharmaceutical Micro-particles Using Particle Correlated Raman Spectroscopy

This study highlights particle correlated Raman spectroscopy (PCRS) as a powerful technique for combining particle characterization with chemical identification, enabling deeper insight into drug performance across various pharmaceutical dosage forms (sprays, tablets, creams).

Microplastics analysis in food: assessing human exposure through Raman micro-spectroscopy

Sugar, a widely consumed dietary ingredient, is present in numerous food products, including desserts and beverages. Its production involves several stages—extraction, purification, crystallization, and drying—each presenting potential contamination risks from plastic-based equipment and packaging. In this work, we demonstrate the typical workflow for microplastics analysis using Raman microspectroscopy.

Characterizing Battery Materials by Particle Size and Shape Analysis and Raman Spectroscopy

As the requirements for electric vehicles and other portable devices become more and more demanding, the need for higher performance batteries and the ability to monitor the battery material’s physical and chemical characteristics will continue to increase. Of the novel battery materials finding more usage in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are lithium iron phosphates (LFPs), used to comprise the cathode, and carbon-coated silicon (Si@C), used to make the anode.

Analysis of microplastics in hand sanitizers using ParticleFinder™

Due to the corona crisis, hand sanitizer became part of our daily routine. However, their use is not without potential risks because of their microplastics content. HORIBA offers all the tools necessary to analyze and characterize the presence of Microplastics in hand sanitizers: High-performance Raman microscopes, dedicated filtration kit, and especially the powerful particles detection software ParticleFinder™. We analyzed 3 samples of hand sanitizers, from different countries, and we were able to identify the different plastic content of each.

Morphological and chemical characterizations of microplastic particles using ParticleFinderTM and Raman techniques

The assessment of microplastics in a marine environment is a multi-step process (sampling, extraction, detection and quantification of microplastics), in which each step is time consuming. Analyzing the chemical composition and morphology of microplastics represents a real challenge for answering crucial questions about the sources and fate of microplastics in aquatic environments. In this application note, we present a reproducible and time-effective method for fast and thorough morphological and chemical characterization of microplastics using a semi-automated scanning of particles coupled to micro-Raman spectroscopy. The rapid analysis of large number of collected particles allows for an exhaustive assessment of both large sample sizes and small subsamples.

Size: 6.6 MB

ParticleFinder™ for Raman Spectrometer Brochure