`better-suited to analysis in aqueous environments owing to the relatively weak strength of the Raman O-H band.` This sounds very defensive towards Raman. I would simply approach it as "... optical techniques.... for example (near) infrared.... Raman spectroscopy provide complementary information and its use is growing.... miniaturization

[adamjtaylor]

No text change. NB to mention that this is a good thing not a bad thing to CM