Spectrophotometer Best Practices

Spectrophotometers are invaluable to many industries, ranging from the food to plastics industries and beyond, delivering the color consistency necessary to streamline supply chain efficiencies and maximize product quality. The key to ensuring reliable performance and color measurement quality is knowing how to properly maintain a spectrophotometer.

What Is the Function of a Spectrophotometer?

A spectrophotometer scientifically measures the color of materials using a light source, wavelength-selective optics, sensors, and software to convert emitted energy to an industry-standard color scale. This measurement enables companies to verify the quality and consistency of their products, ingredients, and raw materials. The device mimics how the human eye sees color but eliminates error-prone manual visual observations for higher accuracy.

Best Practices for Using and Taking Care of Your Spectrophotometer

Spectrophotometers must undergo the proper routine maintenance to deliver the most precise and accurate measurements. With the right standardization and care, you can ensure your color spectrophotometer performs at its best.

1. Perform Routine Maintenance

A well-maintained device provides the most accurate and reliable readings. Maintenance begins with a thorough cleaning. No matter how well-calibrated your device is, it won’t deliver accurate or consistent readings if it isn’t clean. That’s why it’s vital to ensure your spectrophotometer is free of dirt, dust, grime, and other contaminants that can obscure measurement results.

When cleaning your equipment, it’s crucial to follow the best practices outlined in your user manual to avoid damaging the device and invalidating your warranty. Avoid using any harsh or abrasive tools or substances when cleaning your spectrophotometer.

Cleaning frequency varies based on the components. The exterior of the sensor and mounting generally require weekly cleaning. If your work involves messy samples that contact the sensor, you may also have to clean between measurements.

You should also consider your environment when determining cleaning frequency. For example, a unit stored in a dusty, poorly ventilated closet will require more routine cleanings than one contained in an air-conditioned office.

Other routine maintenance checks include:

• Inspecting and cleaning the power cord
• Verifying the optics are clean and in good condition
• Testing general structures like the device touch screen or buttons

Beyond these general checks, each model operates differently. Check the owner's manual for additional maintenance procedures specific to the device.

2. Prepare Your Samples Properly

Like a dirty color measurement tool, dirty samples will not produce accurate color data. Poorly sanitized samples can also contaminate your measurement device and corrupt all subsequent samples. You can exercise proper handling and storage techniques to promote lasting preservation and ensure sample purity.

If you are performing liquid cell analysis, choose a suitable transmission cell for better accuracy and safety. Plastic or glass transmission cells or cuvettes are small, clear tubes that hold samples for spectrophotometric measurements. Reusable glass cuvettes require proper sanitization according to manufacturer instructions.

3. Standardize Your Device Regularly

It’s a good rule of thumb to standardize your unit at a minimum of every eight hours or when the internal temperature of the sensor changes by 5 degrees Celsius. In addition to accurate results, standardization makes it easier for your spectrophotometer to return to its original state after each reset.

Plus, frequent standardization can help reduce the risk of drift errors caused by light, temperature, or atmospheric fluctuations. Always consult your user's manual for the steps to follow to standardize your spectrophotometer accurately.

4. Ensure Proper Operating Conditions

A stable operating environment is crucial for achieving reliable and precise color measurements. Temperature plays a considerable role in spectrophotometer performance. For example, if your solution sits in direct sunlight, the device may become heated and deliver inaccurate measurements, even in a temperature-controlled space.

All spectrophotometers have a set range of temperature tolerances. You can produce the best results by following your model's best practices. Beyond avoiding direct sunlight and temperature variations, keep the humidity constant and within the range set by the user's manual. Different spectrophotometers have a range of humidity tolerances. 

Other operating conditions to monitor include air quality. The air in the testing environment should be clear and free of chemicals or smoke. Be sure to monitor atmospheric conditions as well, as they can affect the sample's color. Hygrochromic or hydrochromic materials change color due to rising moisture or humidity. Thermochromic materials change color due to temperature variations.

5. Measure Color Samples Correctly

Best practices for using a spectrometer include adapting it for what you plan to measure. Factors that influence color measurements include transparency and nonuniform colors.

One area where transparency matters is in liquid ingredients. Opaque liquids are best measured using a directional 45/0° reflectance geometry to mimic how human eye perceives color, while transparent liquids need a transmission approach. Translucent liquids may use reflectance or transmittance depending on their opacity.

Measuring foods also has unique challenges. The versatile ColorFlex L2 is ideal for addressing many of them, and specialized options like the ColorFlex L2 Tomato offer industry-specific solutions. Manufacturers, producers, and processors of nonuniform foods and food ingredients can rely on the smart, no-contact Aeros for fast and accurate measurements.

Another factor to consider is the viewing area. Most samples benefit from a larger viewing area, which yields more accuracy over an expanded area and faster measurement. However, some samples require a smaller viewing area, whether because they are tiny or require a measurement for a specific sample portion. Many spectrophotometers offer the ability to switch between small or large viewing areas for extra versatility.

6. Follow Usage Instructions

Reliable results come from using a spectrophotometer according to the manufacturer's instructions. The instructions vary based on the specifications of each particular solution. Here's a general overview of how to use a spectrophotometer:

1. Turn on the device and let it warm up.
2. Choose the testing standards for the sample you plan to analyze.
3. Standardize the spectrophotometer.
4. Place the sample in the testing area.
5. Run the analysis.
6. Record the data collected.

Learn More About Our Spectrophotometers Today

You can secure high-quality spectrophotometers from the global color measurement technology leaders at HunterLab, who leverage over 70 years of industry expertise to manufacture the most advanced devices available. We pride ourselves on our full line of highly accurate, user-friendly solutions with unprecedented measuring, monitoring, and analysis flexibility.

Contact us to learn more about our devices today