Raman spectroscopy of a coal liquid shows that fluorescence interference is minimized with ultraviolet excitation.

The first ultraviolet resonance Raman measurements of a coal liquid are reported. The spectra detail the presence of numerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with ring systems similar to those of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and triphenylene . The ultraviolet resonance Raman measurements of this highly complex sample show no significant interference from fluorescence. The lack of fluorescence interference and the high selectivity indicate that ultraviolet resonance Raman spectroscopy is a powerful new technique for characterizing highly complex samples and mixtures.