Spectroscopy - May 2008 - (Page 28)

28 SPECTROSCOPY GLOBAL EDITION MAY 2008 reflectance head. A PDA-based control panel is used for the user interface with a wireless communications link to an external PC. The two models are differentiated by application. The Exoscan is used for materials characterization, and the Ranger is used for HazMat identification for military and first responder applications. Applications of the Exoscan include surface coatings and composite surface chemistry in the aerospace industry. In addition to this new handheld product, Smiths Detection also featured the IlluminatIR, its FT-IR accessory for optical microscopy; the IdentifyIR, a miniaturized FT-IR system designed for organic synthesis applications; and the Ionscan-LS ion mobility spectrometer. Ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) traditionally is not known in the laboratory, and we are more familiar with it in a security environment; it is widely used at the nation’s airports for screening luggage for explosives. It is an analogous technique to mass spectrometry, in which materials are ionized and are separated and characterized, as a function of the ion’s mobility, in an electric field. It works at atmospheric pressures (not a vacuum, as in mass spectrometry); it can be highly selective for certain classes of compounds; and it offers picogram to nanogram sensitivities (even femtogram under certain circumstances). It is currently being considered for pharmaceutical applications, with cleaning validation being an important example of an application. Aspectrics (Pleasanton, California) introduced the concept of encoded photo- metric (EP)-IR, an infrared measurement technique that falls between dispersive and FT-IR spectrometry, at Pittcon 2005. Since that introduction, the company has advanced its products to provide multicomponent process analyzers featured at this year’s Pittcon; the models 5000 and 5500 (mid-IR) and the 2750 (NIR) products. These products are offered integrated with liquid or gas–vapor sampling accessories. Application-specific versions are also offered, precalibrated, such as the BioDiesel Quality Analyzer (BQA 1000). Ahura Scientific (Wilmington, Massachusetts) has established itself in a unique market niche for highly rugged, handheld spectrometers originally intended for HazMat and toxic chemical identification. Up to now it is best known for its FirstDefender, intended for hazardous chemical identification, and the TruScan Raman system for material characterization and verification. The latest product from Ahura, the TruDefender FT, is a fully integrated FT-IR instrument with ATR-based sample handling and software for both data acquisition and sample identification. It is designed primarily as a HazMat tool for in situ characterization of toxic and hazardous chemicals. The instrument is ruggedly designed, yet it weighs less than 3 lb, including the rechargeable lithium ion battery. No details were provided at the time of the show in terms of spectral performance characteristics, but it was reported that useable spectra could be obtained for identification purposes in a

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Spectroscopy - May 2008 Contents A Pragmatic Approach to Managing Interferences in ICP-MS Pittcon 2008: Back to New Orleans and Coffee and Beignets for Breakfast News Market Profile Calendar

Spectroscopy - May 2008

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