Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy November 15, 2006 CH EN 4903 Chad Wilding
Outline What is Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy? Why use FTIR? The importance of a good baseline The analysis of aqueous sugar solutions Conclusions References
What is FTIR? Passes infrared (IR) light through an interferometer IR light passes through a sample and an interferogram is obtained A Fourier Transform is performed on the interferogram and a spectrum is defined for the sample
Diagram of a FTIR http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Interferometer.png
Why Use the FTIR? Identify constituents of organic compounds Determine the existence of light hydrocarbon gases Analyze the concentration of aqueous sugar solutions
Obtaining the Baseline Spectra were referenced against the baseline Distilled water was used as the background Baseline needs to have virtually zero absorbance or minimal error
Analysis of Sugar Solutions D-Fructose crystals dissolved in distilled water Sucrose crystals dissolved in distilled water Sucrose is a combination of a glucose ring bonded to a fructose ring
Fructose Spectra
Sucrose Spectra
Calibration Graphs
Calibration Equations Fructose Conc.= (log(1/R)+0.0529)/0.0004 Sucrose Conc.= (log(1/R)+0.0314)/0.0003
Unknown Spectrum
Results Sucrose concentration-79.0 ± 11.7 g/L. Fructose concentration-253.5 ± 11.7 g/L. Actual sucrose concentration-60 g/L. Actual fructose concentration-240 g/L.
Conclusions
What is a Good Baseline? σ1 = 0.226 σ2 = 0.015 σ3 = 0.015
References Schwedt, Georg. The Essential Guide to Analytical Chemistry. New Jersey: Wiley and Sons, 1997. Crocker, Betty. “Chemical Engineering and Brownies,” 1971. Wikipedia. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/fourier_transform_infred_spectroscopy. 2006
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