Raman on a disc: high-quality Raman spectroscopy in an open channel on a centrifugal microfluidic disc.

The implausible combination of centrifugal disc microfluidics and un-covered channels provides a simple way in which Raman spectroscopy can be implemented in industrially-relevant lab-on-a disc technology. Here we demonstrate these advantages by detecting very low concentrations of melamine in liquid milk, without pre-processing, without surface enhancement of the Raman signal and with no evidence of spectral contamination from the polymeric chip itself. A limit of detection (LOD) of 203 ppm for melamine in milk was achieved from Raman spectra of milk after drying. The centrifugal disc rotation and microchannel geometry results in rapid and reliable filling of the channels and in meniscus shape control, enabling reproducible Raman detection with quantitative precision.