Ten Tips to Choose your next Spectrophotometer
Announcement posted by John Morris Group 15 Dec 2015
If you’re in the market to buy a new spectrophotometer for the laboratory, you may already understand that there's a variety of options to consider. Spectrometers, or spectrophotometers, are analytical instruments used to identify or confirm the chemical species, chemical structure, or concentration of substances in a sample. Spectrophotometers will emit an energy source to pass through a solution and measure light intensity at different wavelengths. If the solution is high in molecular concentration, then more light will be absorbed. In most cases, a sample submitted for spectrometric analysis must be very pure in order to avoid poor or contaminated results. Spectrometers are generally comprised of a light or energy source (typically a lamp), a filter (or monochromator) to set desired wavelengths of which to read, a place for cuvettes or blanks, and a radiation detector (or phototube) to convert the energy received during the experiment into a measurable signal.
A quick overview reveals these spectrophotometer types:
- Visible Light Spectrophotometer
- UV/Visible Spectrophotometer
- Infrared or Near-Infrared Spectrophotometer
- Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
- Mercury Spectrophotometer or Analyser
While each has advantages and disadvantages, keep in mind the following variables as you are compare models and brands:
- Density, shape, or size of the product you wish to measure
- Detection limits
- Wavelength range
- Analytical working range
- Sample throughput (single sample vs. multi-sample)
- Cost of instrument and associated consumables
- Data quality
- Measurement time
- Custom and/or pre-configured method options
- Footprint of instrument
Please view our selection of Spectrophotometers.
Comparison Table | ||
| Industry | Surface | Colour meter and Spectrophotometer models |
| Painted surfaces | Flat panels | 12-mm 45/0 cone, 12-mm hemisphere, 26-mm, 11-mm benchtop |
| Curved surfaces | 3-mm, use foam baffle | |
| Masonry, stucco, cement | 20-mm D with window and baffle | |
| Plastics | Flat areas | 12-mm cone |
| Small parts | 3 mm | |
| Curved surfaces | 3-mm, use foam baffle | |
| Wire and cable | Small wire and fiber special, 3-mm and fixture | |
| Fibers and small tubes | Up to 5-mm D, wire and fiber special | |
| Textured surfaces | 20-mm D with window, 12-mm hemisphere | |
| Powders | 12-mm or 20-mm with window, 30-mm bench top | |
| Transparent | 12-mm with white background | |
| Foods and agriculture | Cheese, meats | 12-mm w/window, 20-mm D w/window |
| Powders, flour, sugar | 20-mm D w/window, 30-mm bench top | |
| Fruits, outside | 12-mm cone | |
| Fruits, inside and fish | 12-mm with window | |
| Leaves, small areas | 3 mm | |
| Soil and grass clippings | 20-mm D w/ window, 30-mm bench top | |
| Coffee, grains, snack foods | 30-mm bench top | |
| Opaque liquids, sauces, dips | 30-mm bench top | |
| Graphic arts | Litho printing | 3 mm |
| Other printing small | 3 mm | |
| Ink proofs, larger print targets | 12-mm cone | |
| Paper | Finished paper | 12-mm, 11-mm bench top |
| Paper pulp and paper board | 20-mm D w/ window | |
| Textile | Textile printing | 3 mm |
| Hard weave | 12-mm cone | |
| Solid colors soft weave | 20-mm D w/window, 30-mm bench top | |
| Packages | 12-mm cone | |
| Cosmetics | Foundation drawdowns | 12-mm cone, 11-mm bench top |
| Skin, cosmetics on skin | 12-mm flat head | |
| Powders and creams | 12-mm or 20-mm with window, 30-mm bench top | |
| Lipstick | 12-mm with thin film press | |
| Packaging | 3 mm | |