News
15 January 2007 Smiths Detection forms JV with General Electric Company [more]
19 December 2006 Smiths Detection Lightweight Chemical Detector provides new level of personal protection for emergency responders [more]
12 December 2006 Norwegian Armed Forces exercise contract option for Smiths Detection chemical agent detectors [more]
30 November 2006 Smiths Detection awarded contract to protect Asian Games with chemical threat detection and analysis equipment [more]
24 November 2006 Smiths Detection helps HM Revenue and Customs tackle drug couriers from Ghana [more]
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is a well-established and proven analytical technique for the identification of unknown chemicals. The method relies on the microscopic interaction of infrared light with chemical matter via a process of absorption and results in a pattern of bands called a spectrum. This spectrum is unique to the chemical and acts like a “molecular fingerprint” in the same way a human’s fingerprint is distinct.
FT-IR exploits the intrinsic properties of a chemical, in addition to being broadly-applicable. These features make FT-IR very amenable to spectral library-matching. With the help of an extensive database the library-matching approach makes it possible to identify rapidly thousands of chemicals on the basis of their distinct “molecular fingerprint”.
FT-IR exploits the intrinsic properties of a chemical, in addition to being broadly-applicable. These features make FT-IR very amenable to spectral library-matching. With the help of an extensive database the library-matching approach makes it possible to identify rapidly thousands of chemicals on the basis of their distinct “molecular fingerprint”.