ATR‑FTIR Provides Fast Analysis of Aragonite Group Carbonates

A new study by Mahmoud Alkhatib, Nabil Thabteh, Fuad Al‑Rimawi, and Mutaz Qutob demonstrates that attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR‑FTIR) spectroscopy can be used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of aragonite‑group carbonates. The authors applied this technique to synthetic mixtures containing aragonite, strontianite, and witherite, showing it requires no physical sample preparation and offers a rapid alternative to X‑ray diffraction.¹

Calibration curves were developed from absorbance ratios between characteristic peaks in the FTIR spectra. By correlating these ratios with known concentrations, the researchers quantified the proportions of strontianite and witherite while reducing variability introduced during measurement conditions.¹

Expert commentary notes that ATR‑FTIR provides several advantages over traditional methods such as X‑ray diffraction. Its minimal preparation requirements make it suitable not only for mineralogical studies but also for broader applications where quick compositional data are valuable.¹