(Includes AA, FTIR, Raman, and UV-Vis)

Top 5 Things You May Not Know About Spectrophotometers

1. In the 1930s, vitamin research indicated that several vitamins, particularly vitamin A, absorb ultraviolet (UV) light. Spurred by the American government’s interest in measuring vitamin content in soldiers’ rations using ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) light, this research culminated in the commercial launch of UV-Vis spectrophotometers in the early 1940s.

2. Nobel laureate Bruce Merrifield referred to the UV-Vis spectrophotometer as “probably the most important instrument ever developed toward the advancement of bioscience.”

3. Raman spectrophotometers were once massive benchtop instruments that required a PhD to operate, while today’s instruments are much more portable and easier for non-experts to use.

4. Atomic absorption (AA) has been known since the 19th century, but it was not until the 1950s, thanks to efforts by Alan Walsh at Australia’s CSIRO research center, that use of AA spectrometers became routine for metals analysis.

5. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, a subset of infrared (IR) spectroscopy, uses a mathematical algorithm, Fourier transform, to translate raw infrared data into a spectrum.

For questions to ask when buying different types of spectrophotometers, visit: www.labmanager.com/aa-questions for AA, www.labmanager.com/FTIR-questions for FTIR, www.labmanager.com/raman-questions for Raman, and www.labmanager.com/uv-vis-questions for UV-Vis

Recently Released Spectrophotometers

Maya LSL Spectrometer

• Combination of a back-thinned CCD array detector and low stray light optical design results in high-sensitivity, high-throughput performance for applications ranging from chemical catalysis to Raman analysis
• Unit’s speed, sensitivity and throughput help to reduce measurement errors and ensure accuracy
• Offers very low stray light performance of 0.015 percent at 400 nm

Ocean Optics
www.oceanoptics.com 

Epoch 2 Microplate Spectrophotometer

• Combines a large touchscreen and full onboard data analysis software for simplified and efficient operation and reporting of absorbance-based detection workflows
• 10-inch color touch screen interface offers an enhanced user experience, with intuitive navigation and a high resolution display
• On-board Gen5™ Data Analysis Software provides quick analysis and flexible export and report options at the touch of a few buttons

BioTek
www.biotek.com 

Cary 8454 Uv-Vis Diode Array Spectrophotometer

• Includes a new version of UV-Vis ChemStation software that integrates with OpenLAB Enterprise Content Manager (ECM)
• Provides the secure data management needed in pharmaceutical and other highly regulated industries
• Compact, easy-to-maintain system can collect a complete spectrum in less than one second
• Transitioning from existing earlier models to the Cary 8454 UV-Vis is seamless

Agilent
www.agilent.com 

IRTracer-100 FTIR Spectrophotometer

• Combines high speed, sensitivity and resolution with enhanced expandability and easy-to-use software
• Enables up to 20 spectra/second acquisitions, offers 60,000:1 S/N ratio, and features resolution of 0.25 cm-1, which provides for highly accurate quantitation and identification
• Features a stable, airtight interferometer that incorporates a built-in automatic dehumidifier, while its Advanced Dynamic Alignment provides enhanced stability and shorter warm-up times

Shimadzu
www.ssi.shimadzu.com 

Spectrophotometer Manufacturers