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Taking The Measure Of Current Spectrophotometers
Buying Tips
May 17 '06
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Introduction |
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| In most labs today you will find a spectrophotometer, so ubiquitous have they become. In fact, you will probably use one over the course of your scientific career and think little of the experience because most are so simple and convenient to operate. But how do you know which model is right for you? First you will need to determine, based on your particular experiments, what kind of detection range you need, as well as the degree of sensitivity and resolution you require. Some systems offer other features, such as temperature control, kinetic assay capabilities, or small sample volumes. Some spectrophotometers are themselves very small, some are run by an external computer, while others are stand-alone systems.
Whatever your need, there are several factors that you’ll likely want to keep in mind when looking around, such as the flexibility to change your machine’s functions with modular designs, or whether you need an instrument that offers a range of resolution settings. Perhaps you want a lab workhorse that will be used almost constantly for a long time to come. Another factor to consider is ease of use, particularly valuable if you frequently have inexperienced users in the lab. Or maybe you are looking for a spectrophotometer that can analyze very small volumes. Below you will find some instruments that address these issues. |
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Instrument Flexibility |
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| Ocean Optics has made instrument flexibility a priority, as most of their customers are researchers and product developers from diverse disciplines, “who are interested in solutions to particular applications challenges,” says Rob Morris, director of marketing and customer relations at Ocean Optics. “As such, they respond to the flexibility of our instrument, as well as its size and affordability.” Ocean Optics’ miniature modular spectrophotometer serves as an “optical sensing platform on which applications can be built.” This spectrophotometer, which is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, is well suited to portable situations, or labs with limited space. Another attractive feature of its small size is that it can be embedded into other analytical devices.
Morris explains that software is a key advantage of Ocean Optics’ spectrophotometers: “The real difference between Ocean Optics and its competitors is our spectrometer operating software, SpectraSuite, which is the first such software to operate in Linux, Macintosh, and Windows environments. What's more, SpectraSuite is, like our spectrometers, inherently modular and customizable, so that the user can create his or her own software experience.” Another aspect that distinguishes Ocean Optics, Morris believes, especially among suppliers of miniature spectrophotometers, is “its large library of applications knowledge. Being first with this technology, we simply have more applications under our belt and more knowledge to share with researchers.”
The combination of small size and modular capability can be seen in Ocean Optics’ S2000 Miniature Fiber Optic Spectrometer. With a wavelength of 200 – 100 nm, this machine can be used for UV, visible, or NIR (near infrared) applications. The modular nature allows you to select from three detectors, 14 gratings, six slits, and hundreds of fiber optic accessories to fit your specific application. You can also connect the S2000 to up to seven other spectrophotometers to expand your wavelength range and sample from multiple points. The S2000 was recently used as a nanoscale optical biosensor to detect elevated levels of amyloid-derived diffusible ligands—a tiny toxic protein suspected of triggering Alzheimer’s disease—in afflicted patients. If you need greater resolution, the S2000’s high-resolution cousin, the HR2000 High-Resolution Miniature Fiber Optic Spectrometer, provides optical resolution to 0.035 nm. The HR2000 is especially suited for applications such as characterizing laser wavelengths, and monitoring gases and monochromatic light sources. |
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A Plethora Of Choices |
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| Cecil Instruments offers an overwhelming array of choices to the prospective spectrophotometer buyer. But the company prides itself on its attempt to satisfy every need that a customer may have. “The key features of our spectrophotometers that attract our customers are high specifications, reliability, longevity, ease of use, comprehensiveness, wide availability of spare parts, and high quality,” says Ade Kujore of Cecil’s Marketing Department. According to Kujore, the unique technical features of Cecil Instruments’ spectrophotometers include “low stray light, and high baseline stability.”
These qualities can be found in their Super Aquarius models, designed to be versatile when working with diverse or difficult samples. For example, in the top of the range model, the CE 9500, four different optical resolutions are possible (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 nm). Samples with narrow absorption bands, such as gases, will benefit from the narrowest bandwidth (0.5 nm), while samples that involve fluorescence may require the widest bandwidth (4 nm) for the greatest sensitivity and accuracy. The Super Aquarius models also offer turbid sampling optics to allow you to make accurate measurements of turbid samples, which can erroneously give very high absorbance measurements when measured normally. |
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Related Product Links:
 Microplate Spectrophotometers
Small Volume Spectrophotometers
Spectrophotometers (Single Beam)
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