The Festival of Scientific Discovery
March 8–12, 2015 | Ernest N. Morial Convention Center | New Orleans, Louisiana
Explore the ConferenceImagine a place where over 17,000 scientists from around the globe gather, where more than 2,000 technical presentations unveil the future of science, and where 1,600 exhibition booths display the very tools shaping modern research. This isn't a scene from a science fiction novel—this was Pittcon 2015, the premier conference on analytical chemistry and applied spectroscopy 5 .
At its heart, Pittcon is a celebration of how we see the unseen—the molecular world that constitutes everything from the medicines we take to the food we eat. The conference's theme, "Be in Your Element," invited participants to explore their passion for science through cutting-edge research and instrumentation. From nanotechnology and drug discovery to food safety and environmental science, Pittcon served as the central hub where discoveries are born and scientific collaborations ignite 5 .
Spectroscopy, in its essence, is the art and science of observing how matter interacts with light. Different spectroscopic techniques reveal different stories about a substance's composition, structure, and dynamics.
Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy operates on a beautifully simple principle: molecules absorb specific wavelengths of ultraviolet or visible light, and this absorption acts as their molecular fingerprint 2 .
The instrumentation is elegant in its design. A UV-Vis spectrophotometer features a light source, a wavelength selector, a sample container, and a detector to capture the resulting signal 2 6 .
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy tunes into the behavior of atomic nuclei when placed in a strong magnetic field 4 7 .
An NMR spectrometer contains several key components: a powerful magnet, a radiofrequency transmitter, a sample holder, and a sensitive radio receiver to detect the faint signals emitted as nuclei relax back to their base energy state 4 .
Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy explores the infrared region of the spectrum, where molecules absorb light and vibrate in specific ways 3 8 .
Modern FT-IR instruments often use Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) accessories, which allow researchers to analyze samples directly with minimal preparation—a significant advantage for industrial and clinical applications 3 8 .
One of the most exciting techniques celebrated at Pittcon 2015 was two-dimensional Fourier transform (2D FT) spectroscopy, developed by David Jonas of the University of Colorado, for which he received the Coblentz Society's Bomem-Michelson Award 1 .
This groundbreaking method represents an optical analog of 2D NMR, but applied to electronic and vibrational spectroscopy with ultrafast time resolution 1 .
The compound of interest is prepared in an appropriate solvent and placed in a spectroscopic cell.
The experiment uses a sequence of precisely timed femtosecond laser pulses directed onto the sample.
Pairs of pulses excite the sample, with the first creating coherence and the second interacting after a controllable delay.
The emitted signal is measured as a function of time delays between pulses.
Double Fourier transformation converts raw data into a 2D frequency correlation map.
The final output is a two-dimensional correlation spectrum that plots excitation frequency against detection frequency.
Professor Jonas's work demonstrates how spectroscopic techniques can cross traditional boundaries, creating optical methods with the powerful correlation capabilities previously exclusive to NMR 1 .
Behind every great spectroscopic experiment lies a collection of essential tools and reagents. The following table details key materials that form the foundation of spectroscopic analysis, many of which were showcased in the exhibits and presentations at Pittcon.
| Item | Function in Spectroscopy |
|---|---|
| Quartz Cuvettes | Sample holders transparent to UV light, essential for UV-Vis measurements where glass or plastic would absorb radiation 2 6 . |
| Deuterated Solvents | Solvents in which hydrogen atoms are replaced with deuterium; crucial for NMR spectroscopy to avoid signal interference from solvent protons 4 . |
| ATR Crystals | High-refractive-index crystals (e.g., Germanium, ZnSe) used in FT-IR; enable total internal reflection for direct analysis of solids and liquids with minimal preparation 8 . |
| Monochromators | Optical devices using diffraction gratings (often with 1200+ grooves/mm) to isolate specific wavelengths from a broad light source for precise sample examination 2 . |
| Reference Standards | Materials of known purity and concentration; used to calibrate instruments, validate methods, and ensure accurate quantitative measurements across all techniques. |
The research presented at Pittcon 2015 demonstrated spectroscopy's remarkable versatility. Far from being confined to academic labs, these techniques are solving real-world problems across diverse fields:
Italian researchers employed FT-IR ATR spectroscopy to analyze Barbie dolls produced between 1959 and 1976. Their multi-analytical approach identified the plastics used and revealed that phthalate-based plasticizer migration was the primary cause of degradation 3 .
These findings are crucial for developing preservation strategies for plastic artifacts in museums and private collections.
A research team at the University of Kassel developed a modified FT-IR method to analyze reclaimed asphalt (RA). This rapid technique detects polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination and identifies modern additives like SBS 3 .
With an 85% reuse rate for RA, this application of spectroscopy has significant implications for sustainable and cost-effective road maintenance.
Kamal Gandhi and his team at ICAR compiled studies confirming that FT-IR spectroscopy is highly effective in detecting adulterants and contaminants in dairy products like ghee, butter, cheese, and milk powder 3 .
When combined with chemometrics, FT-IR provides a high-throughput, minimally invasive method for ensuring product safety—a vital application as global food supply chains continue to expand.
As the exhibits at Pittcon 2015 made clear, the field of spectroscopy is anything but static. The conference not only showcased current innovations but also pointed toward future directions, including the development of more portable and field-deployable instruments, the increasing integration of artificial intelligence for spectral analysis, and the push toward hyphenated techniques that combine multiple spectroscopic methods for deeper insights.
The work of the awardees honored at the conference—from Alfred G. Redfield's foundational contributions to NMR to David Jonas's pioneering 2D FT spectroscopy—underscores a continuous thread in scientific progress: today's revolutionary discovery becomes tomorrow's essential tool 1 .
Pittcon 2015 demonstrated that whether we're ensuring the safety of our food, developing new medicines, or preserving pieces of our cultural history, spectroscopy provides the elemental tools to "be in our element" as we explore the molecular universe.