Applications

NIR spectroscopy has numerous applications in laboratory analysis and process control. Some typical examples are described below.

For more detailed information please contact your Polytec sales/application engineer.

Product and Application Overview

Process Control of Biogas Plants

Without an appropriate measurement technique, biogas plants are often run below capacity, in order to avoid instabilities in, or failure of, the fermentation process. The result is reduced energy output and possible operating losses. To achieve efficiency, reliable and precise measurement techniques are required, as well as automated process monitoring. With NIR probes, various process parameters can be quantified directly in the reaction vessel, and thus be used for process control. A lack or excess of certain components (e.g. acetic acid) has a strong impact on the fermentation process. But by monitoring and controlling concentration, optimal production efficiency can be achieved.

Process Control

Quality Control of Tablets, Capsules and Pharmaceutical Substances

Using fiber-optic probes, pharmaceuticals can be analyzed quickly and easily– even in the production facility. Due to the extremely high measurement speed of PSS systems, each and every capsule or tablet produced can have its active ingredient content verified, thus giving 100% quality control.

Pharmaceutical Control

Quality Monitoring in the Food Industry

Water, fat and protein content determines cost and quality in food production. These parameters can be determined simply and quickly using Polytec’s NIR technology, allowing the corresponding production and processing steps to be controlled and optimized. As an example, the monitoring of the ethanol content in different beer brands can be determined by NIR spectroscopy.

Food Analysis

NIR – Process and Multi-Component Analysis in the Chemical Industry

Using special probes connected directly to pipelines and reaction vessels, it is easy to monitor water, alcohol and total organic carbon. Quantitative determination of all components in a reaction is critical for monitoring and controlling many processes. With the aid of suitable probes that are directly connected to extruders, reactors or pipelines, it is possible to determine important parameters (e.g. viscosity, density, composition) from the NIR spectra in real time.

Multi-Component Analysis

NIR for Identifying Plastics

Polymers display characteristic spectra. Hence, identifying PE, PET, PP, PS, and so forth is another area of application for NIR technology. High measurement speed, as well as confidence in identification, are the basis for industrial applications in sorting and recycling facilities. During the production of polymers, quick and easy quality assurance regarding water content, for example, is made possible by NIR spectroscopy.

Identifying Plastics

Determination of Layer Thickness

Using NIR spectroscopy, layers ranging from 100 nm thick up to 100 μm can be measured without contact by the use of thin-film interference patterns. This holds true even for layers that are not transparent in the visible spectral range, e.g. lacquers.

Layer Thickness

Production Control for Paper

NIR spectroscopy is highly suitable for in-line moisture control of paper rolls. In addition, a wide range of customer-specified applications or coatings can be monitored and controlled.