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Clear liquid purity is measured using the APHA color scale and is essential for ensuring product safety and consistency and many various industries. Image Source: Flickr user Nathan Forget

Purity is an important factor imperative in the foods we eat, the medicines we take, and the water we drink. However, visual analysis of clear liquid color measurement is highly subjective, leaving a high margin of error in purity analysis. Color measurement using the APHA color index allows these various industries to maintain safety and consistency in their products.

On the moon, even the dirt is deadly. Astronauts returning from the Apollo missions were quick to point out the long list of problems the Lunar regolith caused. In the absence of any atmosphere, the lunar surface has been bombarded by meteorites large and small for millennia, resulting in an extremely finely ground particulate material. The vacuum also exposes the soil directly to the solar wind and unfiltered UV rays, which supercharge the fine particulate with incredible static electric properties. Astronauts reported that the fine, abrasive particulate gummed up their spacesuit joints, wore through layers of kevlar on their boots, swirled around inside the lander and irritated their eyes, nostrils, and lungs, and could not be removed with wet wipes due to their static properties. Long before any construction or other usages can be attempted on the Moon, the dirt has to be taken into consideration. It may seem terrestrial in comparison, but the same is true of land use projects back on Earth.

Constant meteoric bombardment due to lack of atmosphere is responsible for the Lunar regolith’s unique properties. Image Credit: Flickr User Marion Doss (CC BY 2.0)

As the weather turns warmer and more time is spent outside, the need to protect your skin from the sun increases. Sunscreen sales skyrocket in the summer, as consumers look for effective products. Image Source: Flickr user Boudewijn Berends

Summer is just around the corner, and the longer days and warmer weather are drawing people outside for some much-anticipated sunshine. Evidence of sunny weather is popping up at local drug stores and supermarkets, where sunscreen has once again permeated the shelves, reminding people of the importance of skin protection.

Sunscreen undergoes various stages of processing before it reaches the consumer. The most important feature is the sun protection factor (SPF) measurement, which depends on chemical analysis for its determination. The SPF number you find on that bottle of lotion indicates the level of protection the product offers from harmful UV rays. However, accurately measuring the level of protection for a given product is a highly technical process. UV spectrophotometry offers an effective method of chemical analysis that can help to determine SPF. This data can be obtained quickly and accurately, giving a quantifiable number to show the exact level of protection provided.

The determination of fatty acids through spectrophotometric analysis has many applications in foods, dietary supplements, lubricating products, and detergents and soaps. Image Source: Flickr user Sam-Cat

Chemistry was never my best subject, but the truth is that chemical compounds and scientific formulations are just a part of everyday life. Take, for example, the importance of fatty acids. These little chemical compounds are bound together in groups of threes to form a variety of oils and products that we use regularly. These trios of derived chemicals make up many of the fatty acids we depend on for a healthy eating, lubricating needs, and many of the soaps and detergents we use daily.

Humans and animals alike require fatty acids, such as Omega -3s, as part of a healthy diet. Spectrophotometric determination of components such as these are needed for proper derivation, processing, and storage. Other fatty acids that are derived from both animal and plant-based sources also require the determination of acid value before meeting the quality standards needed for industrial use. Spectrophotometric technology offers a safe and easy alternative method of analysis for the determination of fatty acid in products, without the use of harsh chemicals and solvents. Using color technology the determination of fatty acids can be conducted safely, rapidly, and effectively.

Chlorophyll pigments are measured according to the color saturation of the sample. A deeper green color indicates a higher level of these essential nutrients. Image Source: Flickr user Georgios Liakopoulos

Another New Year is underway and once again I have resolved to eat healthier. Green vegetables still take center stage when it comes to high levels of chlorophyll pigments, which boast many health benefits, and I continue to look for new ways to add these healthy nutrients to my diet. However, I can only eat so much raw spinach and kale before I feel my inner rabbit start to retreat. The good news is that chlorophyll pigments are now available in supplement form and can be easily quantified for potency and quality purposes using a simple spectrophotometric method of evaluation.

Chlorophyll pigments are found in a variety of green leafy vegetable and chlorophyll supplements are also beginning to take precedence as another way to increase the intake of these healthy antioxidants. Image Source: Flickr user Aaron Stidwell

Ink color options and combinations are endless, so special attention must be paid to mixing and matching inks. Ink color density directly affects color outcome, and careful measurement of both density and color are necessary to achieve desired results. Image Source: Flickr CC user ben [deleted]

My years in the printing industry taught me one thing—color matters. But when you’re working with ink, color matching is a challenge, especially if you have high standards. Ink color density plays an important role for in-line color printing and has a direct effect on color uniformity and final outcome. Color density measurement can be achieved in several ways, of course, but spectrophotometers are the most versatile option for advanced control and quality.

Many major print media and label corporations are unaware of their options—or the capabilities of spectrophotometric instrumentation. As product supplies and industry needs continue to change, new innovations in spectral technology are keeping pace. And since challenges in ink color density measurement can affect many areas of product development, instrumental analysis is a key method of staying competitive in a growing market.

Petroleum is used in the development of numerous products and applications. Refinement and quality control of these products all rely on color analysis to meet regulatory standards for safety and quality. Image Source: Flickr user Steve Snodgrass

Color is a key indicator of quality in petroleum-based products and developing a color range is an important part of the refinement process. A color range can often be used for monitoring contamination and quality control. Petroleum-based products make up a wide variety of manufactured goods; with consumers relying on color for acceptability, it’s crucial to meet the quality standards of visual perception.

There are several test methods available for determining the color of refined oils and these are necessary for addressing the use of petroleum within a variety of applications. From fuel sources to pharmaceuticals, color analysis plays an important role in developing products that are high in quality and safe for use. Spectrophotometric determination and quantification of color is commonly used for developing color range measurements needed for monitoring variations in processing and meeting standardization requirements.