Using CO2-free air in Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is important for several reasons:
- Reduced Interference: CO2 can absorb infrared radiation in the same spectral region as many organic functional groups, leading to interference with the analyte signals. By using CO2-free air, you minimise this interference, allowing for clearer spectra and more accurate identification of functional groups.
- Baseline Stability: CO2 can contribute to baseline drift and fluctuations in FT-IR spectra, thereby making it challenging to differentiate between true analyte peaks and background noise. On the other hand, using a Dry Air feed with CO2 removed helps maintain a stable baseline, improving the reliability of spectral interpretation and quantitative analysis.
- Improved Sensitivity: Eliminating CO2 ensures that the instrument detects only the infrared absorption bands of interest, thus enhancing sensitivity and enabling the detection of trace components in samples.
- Prevention of Contamination: CO2 can contaminate optical components and sample cells in FT-IR instruments, affecting the quality of spectra and potentially causing damage to the equipment. Using CO2-free air helps prevent such contamination, prolonging the lifespan of the instrument and ensuring consistent performance.
- Consistency in Results: By using CO2-free generator as the purge gas or for sample handling, you establish a consistent environment for analysis, leading to reproducible results across experiments and laboratories.
Overall, using CO2-free air in FT-IR spectroscopy is essential for obtaining reliable and accurate spectral data, particularly in applications where high sensitivity and precision are required for sample analysis and identification of chemical compounds.
Air 2 Gas Tech’s range of CO2-free Purge Gas Generators offers a range of flow rates to suit FT-IR Spectrometers on the market. They are available either with their own internal air supply or with fittings and filtration to connect to an existing compressed air source. Easy to install and service, our two year warranty and range of service plans and support provide complete peace of mind.
