News
Summer 2010 - 20/08/2010
Welcome to the Summer 2010 Specac News Bulletin.
Our regular bulletin is here to keep you up to date with the latest news on the new products we’re developing and some special offers that you can take advantage of. You’ll also get a more in-depth look at some of the many products we offer, as well as finding out which trade shows we’ll be attending.
We are the World’s leading spectroscopic accessory manufacturer, producing the industry’s widest range of Lab IR sampling accessories for solids, liquids & gases.
Our fully integrated sampling solutions work at temperatures from -190°C to 800°C, pressures from vacuum to 6000psi and under corrosive conditions that leave other manufacturers bewildered. International blue-chip enterprises, OEMs and research institutions depend on us - you can too. So whatever your application - you can be sure we already have the ideal sampling solution.
Our brand new SpectroElectroChemical Transmission Cell (GS20900) is based on an OTTLE (Optically Transparent Thin Layer Electrode) concept.
SpectroElectroChemical Spectroscopy allows the application of an electric field to the sample whilst recording spectroscopic absorption features. LEARN MORE
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We are now taking orders for our new Atlas™ 40 ton Auto Press. This extension to our press range replaces our previous 40 ton press which has been discontinued. This simple to use press is based upon our Atlas Auto Press technology with a maximum load of 40 tons. Ideally suited for XRF and XRD samples, but suitable for any application that requires a loading of up to 40 tons. For more details please contact us: sales@specac.co.uk |
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We have a wide range of ATR solutions for Liquid, solid and powder samples. We offer 4 distinct ranges of products that can be tailored to your needs.
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Golden Gate™ - Single Reflection ATR, our premium ATR product, available with either diamond or germanium crystal as standard, is fast, sensitive and robust. It’s the world’s most versatile Infrared sampling system, analyzing any sample type from hard solids to corrosive liquids by simply changing the top plate. The quick lock and release bridge also allows for fast sample change around, while the built-in pressure control mechanism means reproducible results are obtainable and optimum sample clamping is always achieved. |
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Silver Gate™ Evolution - Single Reflection ATR, is a cost effective accessory for the FTIR analysis of solids, liquids, gels and pastes with little or no sample preparation. It’s a very high throughput ATR featuring interchangeable plates and comes with either a Germanium or ZnSe crystal. Innovative crystal plate design also allows it to handle samples quickly and easily and it can be rapidly mounted in the spectrometer without re-alignment. |
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Gateway™ - 6 Reflection ATR is our low cost, advanced, multi-reflection horizontal accessory. With a ZnSe crystal installed as standard, the Gateway™ has a range of interchangeable top plates allowing it to analyze a wide range of samples under a variety of conditions. Three basic configurations also gives you the ability to select a complete package that best suits your needs whilst allowing sampling flexibility and system expandability. |
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25 Reflection ATR - Variable Angle high sensitivity ATR using FTIR or dispersive instruments - for solids, liquids and pastes analysis with a crystal angle of incidence range from 30° to 60°. A KRS-5 crystal comes as standard but Germanium, Silicon and ZnSe crystals are also available, making this accessory suitable for the enhancement of small bands in weakly absorbing samples. |
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Introduction
The liquid sample is one of the most common types of samples submitted for analysis and comprises a vast array of pure compounds and solutions. As an example, several liquids are used in an automobile to sustain critical elements such as lubricating the engine or drive train and to supply mundane functions like washing the windows or generating electrical power.
This paper will describe the analysis of several solutions used in automobiles. The traditional infrared analysis method for fluid samples is to collect an infrared transmittance spectrum of a thin film of the liquid contained between the windows of an infrared liquid cell. Not all liquids, however, can be analyzed with infrared spectroscopy in this manner. For samples that are aqueous, viscous or chemically reactive, an infrared liquid cell is cumbersome and labor intensive. Frequently, special windows with a reduced spectral range must be used and the cell can be difficult to keep clean to prevent cross contamination.
Infrared analysis using Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) accessories like the Golden Gate™ single-reflection micro-ATR require no sample preparation and greatly simplify the collection of FT-IR spectra. The liquid sample is simply placed onto the ATR crystal and the sample spectrum is collected. A volatiles cover supplied with the Golden Gate™ accessory can be used to cover the sample to prevent evaporation during analysis. The sample is then cleaned from the crystal surface and the accessory is ready to collect additional spectra. ATR analysis methods are less complicated than using infrared liquid cells, are fast and a very small amount of the sample is needed.
The resulting data can be searched against a digital database of ATR spectra for positive identification. Despite changes in the relative peak intensity of the absorption bands, due to the internal reflection mechanism of ATR accessories1, spectra can also be compared to transmission data. As an example, Figure 1 is a plot of the transmission and ATR spectra of methanol.
Experimental Results
Spectra were collected using a Golden Gate™ micro-ATR accessory equipped with ZnSe lenses (KRS-5 lenses are available to increase the spectral range) and a single-reflection diamond ATR element. Sample volumes of 20 microliters were pipetted onto the ATR crystal surface and the spectra collected. No sample preparation was necessary to obtain the various spectra and the liquid sample is simply wiped from the crystal surface after the data collection. If necessary, a solvent that will remove the sample is used to clean the diamond crystal surface.
FT-IR spectra of 64 scans at 4 cm-1 resolution were coadded and averaged to obtain the single-beam background and sample spectra. Figure 2 is a spectrum of windshield washing solution and it can be readily observed that methanol (Figure 1) is the major component. The water solvent increases the intensity and band broadening for the O-H stretch and bending modes.
Figure 3 illustrates the spectra of two samples of anti-freeze. While the spectra for the "normal" anti-freeze and the extended lifetime solution appeared identical, a subtraction of the standard ethylene glycol solution from the extended mileage formulation reveals a spectrum of the component(s) that presumably extends the anti-freeze lifetime.
Analysis of 10W 30 engine oil, power steering fluid and two automatic transmission fluids (ATF 3 and ATF 4) all yielded spectra representative of long-chain aliphatics as illustrated in Figure 5. The only discernible difference is the additional peaks at 1730 and 1151 cm-1, which highlight a similar additive in the ATF and power steering samples.
Figure 6 is a spectrum of brake fluid and was interpreted as a complex alcohol or possibly a diol, providing the requisite lubrication and compression characteristics.
The most challenging sample was battery acid. Primarily sulfuric acid, battery acid is extremely corrosive and will etch or react with almost every standard infrared window or ATR element. By contrast, the diamond element of the Golden Gate™ micro-ATR is not damaged during analysis and the tungsten carbide support fixture around the diamond does not react with the acid sample. The spectrum of the acid solution is displayed as Figure 7.
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Conclusions The Golden Gate™ single reflection micro-ATR is a simple, easy-to-use accessory for the analysis of liquids and solutions. The ATR technique is simple, rapid and very reliable for sample characterization. The analysis method is non-destructive and can be used to collect data from a minimal amount of sample. |
1.) Gilby, A. C., Cassels, J., and Wilks, P. A., Applied Spectroscopy, 24(5), 1970.
Acknowledgements:
Pine Belt Automotive, Lakewood, NJ. & Richard A. Larsen, Spectral Consulting.
We want you to see how our products can benefit you and tailor a solution to your analytical needs. Specac is always committed to working closely with our customers to provide the right solutions, and so we’re offering a no obligation demonstration of our products at your lab or office, or if you prefer you can come and visit us at our UK office and see our products here. ARRANGE A DEMO TODAY - CLICK HERE or call +44 1689 892 903
For the first time Specac attended the Electrochemistry Meeting and Exhibit in Vancouver, Canada to launch our new SpectroElectroChemistry Cell (SEC) to this group.
Our purpose was to introduce the cell and promote Specac, gain an understanding of the market and develop a strategy to promote this cell and complementary Specac products such as the water heating jacket and Variable Temperature cell.
The meeting was attended by 1300 high profile international attendees and 650 Graduate students. A number of attendees visited our booth and we are now pursuing those opportunities.
analytica China, the Chinese market´s spin-off event of analytica - the world´s leading trade show and networking platform for analysis, laboratory technology and biotechnology - is being held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre for the fifth time. Alternating with the BCEIA trade show in Beijing, it addresses one of the industry`s most important growth markets worldwide.
China remains one of the world`s largest sales markets. The chemicals, pharmaceuticals and food industries have a great deal of demand for analysis and laboratory equipment for conducting quality-control checks. China has also developed into the second-largest market in the Asian biosciences sector, and research is also subsidized by the government.
analytica China began taking these developments into account as early as 2002. It gives you an optimum business and contact platform for the Chinese market every two years. It is an absolute must for the entire industry and a key source of momentum for exhibitors and trade visitors alike.
Specac will be exhibiting at analytica China, displaying a wide range of our products and will have both technical and sales people on hand to answer any questions you may have. Please come and see us there.
ILMAC is the only industry exhibition for pharmaceuticals and chemicals which covers all the industrial applications of process engineering, including research, development, production and environmental engineering.
As an exhibition with a user focus, ILMAC is aimed at specialists from the pharmaceutical, chemical, food, drinks, cosmetics and biotechnology industries. It takes place in Basel, which is Europe’s main centre for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Specac will be exhibiting at Ilmac in partnership with our swiss distributor Portmann Instruments, displaying a wide range of our products and will have both technical and sales people on hand to answer any questions you may have. Visit us at Hall 1.1. A83.
Our technical experts are always willing to help our customers with their technical queries and issues. The team can be contacted via the "Technical Support" section of our website or by email: TechSupport@specac.co.uk
