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Flexible Sampling Without Cuvettes – As Flexible As It Gets

Fiber optic accessories transform benchtop UV-Vis and fluorescence spectrophotometers into versatile remote measurement systems. The various accessories available enable measurements that otherwise might not be possible. This could be for in situ reaction monitoring, for when samples are difficult to access—like in a glove box—or for when samples are sensitive, hazardous, or simply too large to mount in a conventional instrument.

Read on to learn about the use of remote fiber optic measurement systems in UV-Vis and fluorescence. Or for more on the basics of these important techniques, see our guides to the fundamentals of UV-Vis and fluorescence.

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What Is Remote Fiber Optic Spectroscopy?

Remote fiber optic spectroscopy is a sophisticated technique that uses fiber optic couplers, cables, and accessories to analyze samples at a distance from the spectrophotometer. The technique unlocks a range of experiments that standard UV-Vis or fluorescence instruments cannot accommodate.

The most important remote measurement feature—the use of fiber optic dip probes—enables measurements to be taken in situ, eliminating the need to transfer samples to cuvettes. Probes can be used in various ways, providing a non-invasive, efficient way to obtain accurate spectroscopic data.


How Do Fiber Optic Probes Work?

Fiber optic probes connect to a coupler that is mounted in the spectrophotometer. For analyzing liquids, the user selects a probe and tip compatible with the specific sample, or solvent. Options include stainless steel, Torlon, and quartz. Probe tips come in both reusable and disposable varieties, and different path lengths are also available, as is a microprobe for low-volume measurements. Reflection/transmission probes are available for analyzing solids. The fiber optic reflectance probe (remote DRA) is ideal for analyzing surfaces.

Fiber optic sampling requires high-performing spectrophotometers, which are rare at the entry level. The Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis and Cary Eclipse fluorescence instruments, however, have more than enough spectroscopic power and photodynamic range for fiber optic sampling. They have highly focused beams for very efficient coupling into the fibers. Both also have another key requirement—ambient light immunity, allowing measurements to be taken anywhere, even outside in broad daylight.


Advantages of Using Fiber Optic Probes

Fiber optic probes eliminate the need to transfer liquid samples to cuvettes, reducing sample loss and user error. Probes can take measurements on the production line, for large efficiency savings. Cold samples can be measured straight from the fridge, without condensation problems. Or feed fiber optic cables into a glove box (probe inside, instrument outside), allowing simple measurement of air-sensitive samples.

Fiber optic probes can be used with a wide range of sample volumes—from very large to microliter samples using the fiber optic microprobe. They reduce flow cell uptake times and prevent common issues like tubing leaks, degradation, and bubbles, ensuring more reliable results. Probes are also easier and faster to clean compared to classic cuvettes. Read the blog post—Leave those cuvettes behind!—to see how quick and easy it is using a fiber optic probe compared to cuvettes.


Applications of Fiber Optic Accessories

The capabilities remote fiber optic accessories offer are wide and varied—for example, when sterile conditions need to be maintained, or when samples are too large to fit into the instrument. Other examples include when high temperatures or pressures are present, when radiation or hazardous materials prevent direct handling of samples, when measurements need to be performed inside a glove box, or when monitoring a reaction in a process bath. The fiber optic microprobe enables measurements of <4 μL for precious biological and chemical samples.

In addition to liquids, the remote fiber optic diffuse reflectance accessory can analyze solids at the sample, e.g., on large immovable paintings. There is even a fiber optic coupled, automated sunglass testing accessory.


Instrument Compatibility with Fiber Optic Probes

Most Cary UV-Vis, UV-Vis-NIR, and fluorescence instruments are compatible with fiber optic accessories:






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