(a)
Steps in the ATR-FTIR spectral preparation following recording
on a dry sample of pharmaceutical heparin. (a) (i) The raw spectrum
of a randomly selected heparin sample. (ii) Baseline-corrected (seventh-order
polynomial) spectrum. (iii) Spectrum following normalization and removal
of variable regions <700, >3600, and between 2000 and 2500 cm–1. (iii) The second derivative of the resultant spectrum.
(b) Normalized ATR-FTIR spectra of samples of PMH, OMH, and DS (700–3600
cm–1) showing similarity between PMH and OMH spectra
in the regions 700–2000 cm–1, differing significantly
only in the highly variable O–H stretch region 3000–3500
cm–1. In contrast, DS is distinct from either PMH
or OMH in the region 700–2000 cm–1, corresponding
to structural variations.