Packaging analysis boosted with FTIR upgrades

By Joseph James Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

Agilent Technologies advances FTIR microscopy imaging
Agilent Technologies advances FTIR microscopy imaging

Related tags Spectroscopy

Agilent Technologies has enhanced some of its Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR) microscopes claiming it will allow customers to analyze samples that were never before possible.

The Cary 610 and 620 FTIR microscopes have an software controlled switching mechanism to provide a further five times magnification enhancement to reduce pixel size from 5.5 microns to 1.1 microns for transmission and reflection modes, without the need to change objectives, which preserves the 21mm working distance.

Agilent said they offer enhanced flexibility for busy laboratories.

The Cary 610 is a single-point FTIR microscope, capable of single-point mapping, while the Cary 620 is a focal plane array (FPA) based imaging FTIR microscope. A Cary 610 can be upgraded to a Cary 620 as user needs evolve. 

FTIR for food packaging

Mustafa Kansiz, research FTIR product manager, told FoodQualityNews.com the main application within the food industry revolves around the analysis for packaging, such a laminate films. 

With Agilent’s “Live FPA monitoring with enhanced chemical contrast” technique, polymer laminates can be analysed for layer identification down to two microns thickness without the need for any sample preparation, such as resin embedding.

“Given their critical role food packaging plays in preserving food, ensuring the quality and troubleshooting suspect food packaging is an important task.

“With Agilent’s approach to micro ATR FTIR imaging, a complete sample analysis is now five minutes from raw sample to answer on screen, compared to 24 hours using traditional FTIR microscopy and imaging techniques that require resin embedding.

“With such a fast turnaround, more routine analysis is now possible.”

Agilent said spectra can be searched against extensive spectral libraries (databases) and also analysed via “functional group analysis” software to assist in the interpretation of the spectra for structural elucidation.

With the 4x IR objective, users can image large (centimeter-sized) samples in minutes, then zoom in using the high-magnification optics to look at the smallest of features without moving the sample—all with synchrotron FTIR imaging-like spatial resolution.

Power to the lab bench

Philip Binns, Agilent’s vice president of spectroscopy products, said the system brings the power of synchrotron FTIR imaging onto the laboratory bench. 

“The enhancements we have made in both hardware and software provide our customers with capabilities to analyze samples that were never before possible, allowing them to advance their research, increase production capacity and reduce costs.”  

Agilent claims that theCary620 is the only FTIR microscope to offer live FPA imaging with enhanced chemical contrast, allowing for sample-preparation-free-analysis of polymer laminates and films. 

Delicate samples can be analyzed in minutes with real-time visual feedback to deliver attenuated total reflectance data.

This eliminates some sample preparation, such as resin embedding, and saves laboratory time and expense, said Agilent.

Related topics Food Safety & Quality

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