Improved Spectrometer for Long Pathlength Absorbance
- Technology Benefits
- Allows for measurement of extremely dilute samplesAdjustable path length also allows for measurement of high concentration samplesDesign uses standard optics and off-the-shelf spectrometer components The dove prism configuration allows for liquid flow-through spectroscopy and evanescent wavemeasurements of condensed phase samples
- Detailed Technology Description
- This technology improves the optical configuration of spectrometers for long path length absorbancemeasurements for gases and condensed phases. Developed by Drs. Aldstadt & Geissinger as animproved approach to absorbance spectroscopy, this technology uses a compact optical cavity with arotating mirror to control the beam path length. Based on this technology a prototype was constructedand successfully demonstrated the proof of concept.
- Application No.
- Non-Confidential Summary
- *Abstract
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Long path length spectrometers areconventionally constructed of twoparallel fixed mirrors with the sampleto be measured between the mirrors.The amount of energy absorbed bythe gaseous or liquid sample ismeasured and converted to sampleconcentration. The longer the beampath through the sample, the moreenergy is absorbed, and,consequently, the lower theconcentration levels that can bemeasured.
Conventionalspectrometer configurations aretypically limited to a narrow range ofmeasurable concentrations becauseof limited sample path length. Thisnew technology increases the effective path length by incorporating a unique beam delivery mechanismwith an electronic controller. Additionally, in contrast to conventional spectrometers, this system has adynamic optical path length that allows a very wide range of concentrations to be measured, which mayprove to extend from femtomolar (~10-15) to millimolar (~10-3) levels. HPLC is an example of a techniquethat could benefit from this unprecedented capability in measuring a wide range of concentrations, e.g.,samples containing both ultra-trace as well as relatively high levels could be measured in the samechromatographic run.
- *IP Issue Date
- None
- *IP Type
- Download
- *Principal Investigator
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Name: Joseph Aldstadt, Associate Professor
Department:
Name: John Frost
Department:
Name: Peter Geissinger, Associate Professor
Department:
Name: Beth Ruddy
Department:
Name: Jorg Woehl, Associate Professor
Department:
- Country/Region
- USA
