Page 291 - Handbook of Instrumental Techniques for Analytical Chemistry

Infrared Spectroscopy 281

Required Level of Training

Operation of Instrument

Routine analyses can be performed by analysts with a high school education or an associate college de-
gree. A knowledge of the chemistry of the sample material is useful. Preparation of more difficult sam-
ples is an art gained through experience.

Processing Qualitative and Quantitative Data
Qualitative interpretation of spectra requires a minimum of a college organic chemistry course. Quan-
titative determinations require a minimum of an introductory analytical chemistry course.

Service and Maintenance

Most current spectrometers have diagnostic software that checks the instrument periodically and assists the
operator in troubleshooting. The identification and replacement of faulty components are facilitated by the
modular design of instrument systems. A high percentage of problems can be solved by trained laboratory
personnel, thus eliminating the need for expensive visits by the vendors’ engineers. The major components
requiring replacement are sources and detectors. The sources for dispersive instruments (Nernst glowers
and globar heaters) are much more expensive than the nichrome coil source commonly used with FTIR.
However, the replacement of the helium neon laser source used for timing operations in an FTIR spec-
trometer is expensive (over $600). The beamsplitter of a FT instrument is quite costly (over $3,000). All
types of detectors are expensive (over $1000).

Suggested Readings

Books
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, vol. 03.06. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials, 1995.
GRIFFITHS, P. R., AND J. A. DE HASETH, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. New York: Wiley, 1986.
SILVERSTEIN, R. M., G. C. BASSLER, AND T. C. MORRILL, Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds, 5th
ed. New York: Wiley, 1988.
SMITH, A. L., Applied Infrared Spectroscopy. New York: Wiley, 1979.
WILLARD, H. H., AND OTHERS, Instrumental Methods of Analysis, 7th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1987.

Articles
BERGLUND, R. A., P. B. GRAHAM, AND R. S. MILLER, “Applications of In-situ FT-IR in Pharmaceutical Process
R&D,” Spectroscopy, 8, no. 8 (1993), 31.
COATES, J. P., J. M. D’AGOSTINO, AND C. R. FRIEDMAN, “Quality Control Analysis by Infrared Spectroscopy, Part
1: Sampling,” American Laboratory, 18, no. 11 (1986), 82.
COATES, J. P., J. M. D’AGOSTINO, AND C. R. FRIEDMAN, “Quality Control Analysis by Infrared Spectroscopy, Part
2: Practical Applications,” American Laboratory, 18, no. 12 (1986), 40.
CROOKS, R. M., AND OTHERS, “The Characterization of Organic Monolayers by FT-IR External Reflectance Spec-
troscopy,” Spectroscopy, 8, no. 7 (1993), 28.
FUJIMOTO, C., AND K. JINNO, “Chromatography/FT-IR Spectrometry Approaches to Analysis,” Analytical Chemis-