New accessories for the spectrophotometer

The M400 fibre-optic diode-array UV/Visible Spectrophotometer, from Camspec, is now available with new accessories, adding enormous versatility.

One important development is the use of a 1 metre pathlength flowcell, where the light passes down a capillary tube of sample as a continuation of the optical fibre. This increases the sensitivity of the system by a factor of 100, and can be used for discrete or continuous flow sampling.

Alternatively, the use of an ATR probe decreases the sensitivity of the spectrophotometer by a factor of 10 000 allowing absorbance measurements in situ on concentrated, undiluted samples.

Dr Tony Moss, Camspec managing director, highlights the convenience of the technology: "With a fibre optic lead length of up to 20 metres and an optional foot switch, the spectrophotometer need not even be within reach. Users can now perform QA/QC measurements directly on the production line, rather than taking samples back to the laboratory. Therefore, a very wide range of applications are possible.“

At BASF in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK, the touch screen version of the M400 spectrophotometer is used with a 10mm dip probe. Margaret Massingham, of BASF, says: "Calibration curves of known compounds in solvents methanol, ethanol and water are stored in the touch screen module. Samples are taken of these solvents in tanks during cleaning and when the concentration of the target compound falls below 50ppm, the tank is considered to be clean.“

ENQUIRY No 53

Camspec Limited is based in Sawston, Cambridge, UK. www.camspec.co.uk

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