Process for spectrophotometric analysis
First Claim
1. A process for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample comprising:
- launching polychromatic light having a wavelength ranging from about 100 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers alternately through at least one sample channel and at least one reference channel, through a single fiber optic strand and at least one high-efficiency fiber optic switch having a coupling efficiency of not less than 50 percent;
passing said polychromatic light along said sample channel to said sample cell containing said sample wherein said polychromatic light is passed through said sample and sample spectral information produced;
routing said polychromatic light along said reference channel and producing reference spectral information;
reproducibly and uniformly imaging said sample and reference spectral information from said sample and reference channels by passing said spectral information through a mode scrambler;
processing said uniformly imaged sample and reference spectral information from said mode scrambler in a spectrograph wherein said uniformly imaged spectral information is separated into component wavelengths and the light intensity at each wavelength determined and recorded utilizing a photodiode array detector; and
utilizing said separated and recorded uniformly imaged sample and reference spectral information to predict said physical properties of said sample.
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Abstract
A process is provided for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample. The process comprises launching polychromatic light having a wavelength ranging from about 100 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers alternately through at least one sample channel and at least one reference channel, through at least one high-efficiency fiber optic switch. The sample and the polychromatic light along the sample channel are directed to a sample cell wherein the polychromatic light is passed through the sample, producing sample spectral information. The polychromatic light directed along the reference channel produces reference spectral information. The sample and reference spectral information is reproducibly and uniformly imaged by passing or conveying said sample and reference spectral information through a mode scrambler and the uniformly imaged sample and reference spectral information is then processed in a wavelength discrimination device wherein the uniformly imaged spectral information is separated into component wavelengths and the light intensity at each wavelength determined and recorded. A chemometric model and the separated and recorded uniformly imaged sample and reference spectral information are then utilized to predict the physical properties of the sample. The process of the present invention provides improved prediction accuracy, increased reliability, lower operating costs, and is easier to use and calibrate.
149 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A process for obtaining spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample comprising:
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launching polychromatic light having a wavelength ranging from about 100 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers alternately through at least one sample channel and at least one reference channel, through a single fiber optic strand and at least one high-efficiency fiber optic switch having a coupling efficiency of not less than 50 percent; passing said polychromatic light along said sample channel to said sample cell containing said sample wherein said polychromatic light is passed through said sample and sample spectral information produced; routing said polychromatic light along said reference channel and producing reference spectral information; reproducibly and uniformly imaging said sample and reference spectral information from said sample and reference channels by passing said spectral information through a mode scrambler; processing said uniformly imaged sample and reference spectral information from said mode scrambler in a spectrograph wherein said uniformly imaged spectral information is separated into component wavelengths and the light intensity at each wavelength determined and recorded utilizing a photodiode array detector; and utilizing said separated and recorded uniformly imaged sample and reference spectral information to predict said physical properties of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A process for obtaining near infrared spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample comprising:
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launching polychromatic light having a wavelength ranging from about 800 nanometers to about 2500 nanometers alternately through a single fiber optic strand and at least one sample channel and at least one reference channel, through at least two high-efficiency mechanical motion mechanism fiber optic switches; directing said sample to a sample cell; passing said polychromatic light along said sample channel to said sample cell wherein said polychromatic light is passed through said sample and sample spectral information produced; attenuating said polychromatic light along said reference channel and producing attenuated reference spectral information for balancing polychromatic light transmission between said reference and sample channels; reproducibly and uniformly imaging said sample spectral information from said sample channel and said attenuated reference spectral information alternately by passing said spectral information through a mode scrambler; processing said uniformly imaged sample and attenuated reference spectral information from said mode scrambler in a spectrograph wherein said uniformly imaged spectral information is diffracted into component wavelengths and the light intensity at each wavelength determined and recorded utilizing a photodiode array detector; and utilizing a chemometric model and said diffracted and recorded uniformly imaged spectral information to predict said physical properties of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A process for obtaining near infrared spectral information and quantifying the physical properties of a sample comprising:
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launching polychromatic light having a wavelength ranging from about 800 nanometers to about 1100 nanometers alternately through at least one sample channel and one reference channel, through a single fiber optic strand and at least two high-efficiency latching type mechanical motion fiber optic switches; directing said sample to a sample cell; passing said polychromatic light along said sample channel to said sample cell wherein said polychromatic light is passed through said sample at least twice utilizing a light reflection device, wherein said polychromatic light contacting said light reflection device is reflected at least twice, and sample spectral information produced; attenuating said polychromatic light along said reference channel and producing attenuated reference spectral information for balancing polychromatic light transmission between said reference and sample channels; reproducibly and uniformly imaging said sample spectral information from said sample channel and said attenuated reference spectral information alternately by passing said spectral information through a mode scrambler; processing said uniformly imaged sample and attenuated reference spectral information from said mode scrambler in a spectrograph wherein said uniformly imaged spectral information is diffracted into component wavelengths and the light intensity at each wavelength determined and recorded utilizing a photodiode array detector; and utilizing a chemometric model and said diffracted and recorded uniformly imaged spectral information to predict said physical properties of said sample. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification