SORS Identifies Preservation Fluids Through Sealed Museum Jars
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By
February 13, 2026
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3 min
A portable Raman system has been innovatively adapted for heritage science, providing curators the ability to identify preservation fluids within sealed specimens non-invasively. In a study involving 46 historical biological specimens from the Natural History Museum in London, researchers achieved an identification accuracy of 78.5% using spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS), revealing a new in situ chemical characterization method for museum collections. This approach supports conservation efforts by enabling the analysis of fluid and container types without opening the jars, thereby preserving specimen integrity and informing conservation decisions.
- Portable Raman system allows non-invasive fluid identification.- Achieved 78.5% accuracy in identifying preservation fluids.- Study analyzed 46 specimens from Natural History Museum.- Preserved historical artifacts without opening containers.- Dual capability to analyze both fluids and container materials.- Enhances conservation efforts and specimen management.- Addresses challenges of fluorescence interference in fluid classification.- Method supports long-term monitoring of chemical changes.
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