Determination of Anthracene Derivatives in Baltic Amber Using SERS

The article describes the results of Raman spectroscopy and SERS for the study of fluorescent components of Baltic amber via the extraction method. Using SERS, it was possible to confirm the presence of anthracene derivatives in amber: tetracene and benzanthracene. It has been shown that SERS methods are effective for the detection of aromatic compounds; they increase the registered Raman signal and make it possible to identify peaks characteristic of the compounds under study. By combining experimental methods with DFT simulations, anthracene derivatives were modeled and confirmed to be present in the structure of Baltic amber. A combination of the proposed methods can be used to distinguish between different types of amber and isolate the necessary amber components. The obtained results are promising for compiling spectral maps of ambers for their possible classification by their place of origin.

Automated summary

The article discusses the use of Raman spectroscopy and SERS to analyze fluorescent components in Baltic amber. By combining experimental methods with DFT simulations, the presence of anthracene derivatives in amber was confirmed. The proposed methods can be utilized to distinguish different types of amber and isolate specific components, allowing for the compilation of spectral maps and classification based on the amber's origin.