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FT-NIR has proven to be useful in Research and Development as well as pilot-scale and large-scale chemical production. Nearly all organic molecules are spectroscopically active in the NIR range which makes it a superior technique for real-time, in-process monitoring. FT-NIR finds use in raw material identification, intermediate blend analysis as well as final product quality control. Specific examples of where FT-NIR has been used in industry include quantification of hydroxyl value in polyols, analysis of additives in paper and percent composition of multiple components in mixtures.

ValPro ™ internal qualification allows consistent and rapid system checks, which doesn’t require removing the probes or otherwise interrupting the process flow. The Antaris systems are versatile and can be used in benign or hazardous environments as well as in the laboratory or process setting. Additionally, the optical path of each Antaris analyzer is identical, ensuring that methods developed with a laboratory-based instrument are transferable to any other laboratory or production instrument worldwide. The use of fiber optics allows for remote analysis. The analyzer can safely be placed hundreds of meters away from the probe and process line. Once the data is collected, RESULT software is specifically designed to easily communicate with production control computers using OPC or digital analog I/O.

Analysis can take place at multiple points throughout the process stream, from initial raw materials identification, to the final product QC checks.

Design of Experiment

Instrument: Antaris II MDS with integrating sphere module

Technique: Diffuse reflectance

Rationale: Discriminate analysis can be used to confirm raw materials prior to use in the process stream, or to check for contamination during the process as well as perform quality checks on final product.

Samples: Spectral data was collected for 4,4'-MDA and 3 challenge compounds: Caffeine, Ammonium Benzoate and Sodium EDTA. Each was placed on the integrating sphere module for analysis. Discriminate analysis using the spectral range of 4000 - 10,000 cm^-1. Twenty-five scans were averaged for each analysis with a resolution of 16 cm^-1, producing results in less than 10 seconds. Chemometric modeling using TQ Analyst™ software showed clear discrimination among the compounds indicating the 4,4'-MDA can be successfully identified in process.

• The Advantage of Resolution in the FT-NIR Quantification of Fatty Acid Components in a Quaternary Mixture