Multimodal spectroscopic methods for the analysis of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are the important biomolecules that occupy the central position in the metabolism of biological systems. It is considered one of the essential nutrients and is the primary source of energy to carry out vital functions of life. Because of their complex configuration, structural complexities, and physicochemical properties, various advanced analytical techniques have been developed as they are challenging to analyze with classical analytical methods. Modern techniques for the identification, characterization, and analysis of carbohydrates play critical roles in the research, industry, and quality management of food products. This chapter discusses modern spectroscopic analytical procedures that can be used individually or combined with other techniques to study carbohydrates. We cover the sample preparation, principles, procedures, and applications of analyzing carbohydrates that have broad applications ranging from research to quality assurance and nutrition labeling. Better knowledge of the composition and structure of carbohydrates is essential to understanding their role in biological processes. We focus on various spectroscopic methods used to study and characterize simple to complex carbohydrates and provide a platform for accurately determining the composition, structure, and configuration of these complex molecules.