Devices that measure electromagnetic energy precisely at certain wavelengths of light are called spectrophotometers. The spectrophotometer is used to identify colors and determine how much of each color is present in a light.
The spectrophotometer measures how much a substance reflects, absorbs, or transmits light. This means defining the color, tone and shine of a product.
There are two main types of spectrophotometers: reflection spectrophotometer and transmission spectrophotometer. The reflection spectrophotometer emits a beam of light and measures the amount of reflected light at different wavelengths. The transmission spectrophotometer measures how much light passes through the sample.
Reflection spectrophotometer is sufficient to measure 100 percent opaque surfaces that do not allow light to pass through. Transmission spectrophotometer is needed to measure transparent and translucent objects.
What are the basic parts of a spectrophotometer?
Basic parts of a spectrophotometer; radiation source, focusing mechanism, sample chamber, filter, detector and recording device. The radiation source can be a light bulb, LED, laser or other source of electromagnetic radiation. A prism or diffraction grating can be used as a filter. The detector converts the electromagnetic signal into a voltage or current, making it meaningful data.
How does a spectrophotometer work?
The main function of the spectrophotometer is based on the absorption of photons. Spectrophotometer consists of two main components, spectrometer and photometer. The spectrometer sends a straight beam of light into a prism. Light is split into its wavelengths on the prism. With the help of a wavelength selector, certain wavelengths are filtered out and sent to the photometer. The photometer detects the number of photons absorbed and displays it to the user with the help of a digital display. A decrease in the number of photons indicates increased absorption.
What are the uses for a spectrophotometer?
With the help of spectrophotometers it is possible to analyze almost any product such as liquids, plastics, paper, metal and fabric. It is used in many sensitive applications such as product design, quality control, biochemical research and clinical diagnostics in industries such as construction, food, beverage, textile, chemical and pharmaceutical.
What are the best spectrophotometer brands?
Shimadzu, Agilent, PerkinElmer, Thermo Scientific, Nabi and Hach are widely used spectrophotometer brands all over the world. It is possible to choose between these reliable brands depending on the budget and the features needed.
How much are spectrophotometer prices?
Spectrophotometer prices vary widely, depending on features such as wavelength range, bandwidth, scanning speed, and data memory. An entry-level spectrophotometer is available for $3,000. The prices of high-end devices developed for professional applications can reach up to $30,000.
