Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, deals with the vibration of molecules. Each functional group has its own distinct vibrational energy, which can be used to identify a molecule through the combination of all of the functional groups. When infrared radiation is passed through a sample, some radiation is absorbed by the sample and some is transmitted. The resulting signal at the detector is a spectrum representing a molecular ‘fingerprint’ of the sample. The usefulness of FT-IR is that the different chemical structures (molecules) produce different spectral fingerprints, which could function as a signature pattern.

Applications

• Environment: Analysing soil, monitoring air and water quality to address environmental and health concerns.
• Food : Rapid determination of the trans-fat content of manufactured food products using Attenuated Total Reflectance (U-ATR).
• Polymers and plastics: Quickly and definitely identify compounds such as compounded plastic, blends, fillers, paints, rubbers, coatings, resins and adhesives.