Retro Reflection PROBE For In-Line Color Measurement

MONITORING CHEMICAL REACTIONS

During a chemical reaction, reactants are consumed, products and byproducts are formed, and contaminants may be introduced.

Using in-line fiber optic spectrophotometers, chemical producers can measure the UV-Vis light absorbance (Fig. 1) and the concentration (depletion
or production) of reactants, products, byproducts, and contaminants in real-time.

Chemical reactions occur at different speeds, and therefore, real-time information about the reaction’s stoichiometry (i.e. proportionality) between reactants and products is critical.

Combining in-line UV-Vis fiber optic spectroscopy with process control instrumentation enables production systems to respond immediately to
process changes, guaranteeing total quality control, minimizing waste and preventing unexpected downtime.

Equitech’s Retro-Reflection Probe (RRP) (Fig. 2) is a rugged, high throughput probe developed for use in industrial process environments. The probe can operate at temperature from -30°C to 280°C and at pressures up to 206 bar (3000 psi).

UV-Vis spectroscopy is a quantitative technique that measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) and visible light that is absorbed by a substance.

It also used to measure the concentration of reactants, products and impurities in chemical reactions, mixing and blending unit operations.

This determination is possible due to a relationship of proportionality between the substance’s absorbance and its concentration, known as the Beer Lambert’s
Law expressed as:

A = εLc

where:
A = Amount of light that the sample absorbs at a specific wavelength
ε = Molar absorbing coefficient or absorptivity of the absorbing species
L = Optical path length
C = Concentration of the absorbing species