Departments: Market Profile: Laboratory and Portable IR and NIR in Environmental Analyses
Market Profile: Laboratory and Portable IR and NIR in Environmental Analyses
Market Profile: Laboratory and Portable IR and NIR in Environmental Analyses
Infrared (IR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy aren't exactly commonplace techniques when it comes to environmental testing laboratories. But significant niche environmental applications for both techniques are now rapidly establishing themselves. The most significant of these is the use of IR spectroscopy for analyzing hydrocarbon contamination in soil and water. IR is widely used in fuel analyzers for the petroleum industry, and so its ability to quantify various categories of hydrocarbons is already established. This niche area of application is likely to grow rapidly with the recent publication of a new ASTM standard for IR-based quantification of hydrocarbons in water that does not rely on chlorofluorocarbons or carcinogenic solvents for sample preparation. On the NIR side of the market, Thermo Scientific recently launched a handheld NIR analyzer designed specifically to address asbestos, which has long been known to be an environmental health hazard.
Laboratory and portable IR and NIR environmental demand in 2011.
The total market for laboratory and portable IR and NIR instruments in 2011 was around $12 million. Although not likely to become a major market for laboratory and portable IR and NIR spectroscopy, it clearly has the potential for growth. Thermo Scientific, which has the leading laboratory IR business, as well as the leading portable NIR business, leads in the IR and NIR environmental analysis area. A significant portion of ASD, Inc.'s portable vis–NIR instruments are used in environmental applications. Agilent and PerkinElmer market their benchtop IR systems for oil-in-water applications, while the small Austrian company eralytics recently introduced an IR-based instrument specifically to address the new ASTM standard.
The foregoing data were extracted from SDi's market analysis and perspectives report entitled The Global Assessment Report, 12th Edition: The Laboratory Life Science and Analytical Instrument Industry, October 2012. For more information, contact Stuart Press, Vice President, Strategic Directions International, Inc., 6242 Westchester Parkway, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90045, (310) 641-4982, fax: (310) 641-8851, www.strategic-directions.com.
Portable and Wearable Spectrometers in Our Future
December 3rd 2024The following is a summary of selected articles published recently in Spectroscopy on the subject of handheld, portable, and wearable spectrometers representing a variety of analytical techniques and applications. Here we take a closer look at the ever shrinking world of spectroscopy devices and how they are used. As spectrometers progress from bulky lab instruments to compact, portable, and even wearable devices, the future of spectroscopy is transforming dramatically. These advancements enable real-time, on-site analysis across diverse industries, from healthcare to environmental monitoring. This summary article explores cutting-edge developments in miniaturized spectrometers and their expanding range of practical applications.
Q&A: Portable FT-IR Empowers On-Site Food Quality Assurance
February 1st 2024Exploring the transformative capabilities of handheld Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometers, Luis Rodriguez-Saona of The Ohio State University emphasizes their pivotal role in ensuring food integrity and safety across the entire supply chain.
Portable Raman Spectrometers: How Small Can They Get?
June 1st 2023There is a growing desire among spectroscopists for having instruments small enough to be taken to the sample, as opposed to bringing the sample to the instrument. The result is that Raman spectrometers are becoming more miniaturized. Because these instruments come at a lower cost and offer distinct advantages over traditional spectrometers, the expectation is that a rapid expansion of when these instruments are applied will come forthwith. We offer a preview of how future miniaturized Raman spectrometers might look.
