Application Overview of Handheld Spectrometers

What is a handheld spectrometer? A handheld spectrometer is a spectrum analysis instrument based on XRF spectrum analysis technology. The product has the advantages of stable performance, flexible use, high reliability, and easy maintenance. Today we will introduce the handheld spectrometer product in detail, hoping to help users better apply the product.

Applications of Handheld Spectrometers

When high-energy X-rays with energy higher than the binding energy of the inner electrons of an atom collide with an atom, an inner electron is expelled, resulting in a hole, which puts the entire atomic system in an unstable state. When the outer electron jumps to the hole, a photoelectron is generated. The ejected photon may be absorbed again and eject another secondary photoelectron in the outer layer, resulting in the Auger effect, also known as the secondary photoelectric effect or the radiation-free effect. The ejected secondary photoelectron is called an Auger electron.

When the outer electron jumps into the inner hole, the energy released is not absorbed by the atom, but is emitted in the form of photons, which produces X-ray fluorescence, whose energy is equal to the energy difference between the two energy levels. Therefore, the energy or wavelength of X-ray fluorescence is characteristic and has a one-to-one correspondence with the element.

According to Moseley's law, as long as the wavelength of fluorescent X-rays is measured, the type of element can be known, which is the basis of fluorescent X-ray qualitative analysis. In addition, there is a certain relationship between the intensity of fluorescent X-rays and the content of the corresponding elements, based on which quantitative element analysis can be performed. The X-ray detector converts the light signal of the characteristic spectrum line of the X-ray of the sample element into an easily measurable electrical signal to obtain the characteristic information of the element to be measured.

Handheld spectrometers are widely used in many fields, including electricity, petrochemicals, archaeology, metal processing, pressure vessels, waste material recycling, aerospace, geological exploration, mine mapping, mining, ore sorting, mineral trade, metal smelting, environmental monitoring, soil monitoring, toys, clothing, shoes and hats, electronic products, etc.

Cheap, fast, handheld Raman spectrometers are rapidly becoming a powerful tool for quality control of API procurement. Raman spectrometers are a powerful tool for rapid identification of unknown compounds, such as testing high-purity chemicals, drug ingredient verification, and characterization of polymer materials. The popularity of Raman spectroscopy instruments is mainly due to the intelligent decision-making software and spectral libraries equipped with modern instruments, making it an ideal molecular fingerprint analysis technology.

Unlike traditional molecular spectroscopy techniques, Raman spectroscopy can be used in production environments or field applications because it produces sharp, specific peaks and requires little sample preparation or direct contact with the sample. In addition, it has the unique ability to test samples directly through transparent packaging materials such as glass or plastic without any interference with the spectral information.

Today's Raman spectrometers are developing towards faster, more rugged, cheaper, and miniaturized components, leading to the emergence of high-performance, portable, handheld Raman spectrometers. These handheld devices are particularly suitable for applications in the pharmaceutical field, such as testing of raw materials, final product verification, and identification of counterfeit drugs, because Raman spectroscopy has very high molecular selectivity.

Several technological advances have contributed to the advancement of portable Raman spectroscopy instrumentation, making it well suited for the characterization of APIs. These include: advanced manufacturing procedures, innovative optical designs, compact and highly stable detectors, smaller electronic components, the development of touch screens, advances in computing power, and longer-lasting, better-performing batteries.

Raman spectroscopy is becoming a powerful analytical tool for quality control in API procurement. The reason for its widespread acceptance is that it is used for rapid identification of chemicals in warehouses and is more cost-effective than traditional laboratory analytical techniques.