An Overview of Chemical Imaging System

0
355
Chemical Imaging System

As a scientist, engineer, or researcher, there are multiple scientific processes and applications that have an important role in your field of study, one of which is chemical imaging. 

This scientific technique is a strong and useful process that merges microscopy and spectroscopy to give spatially resolved information about the chemical composition of a sample. With that, this technique has been utilized in many fields like biology, environmental science, forensics, and pharmaceuticals.

Chemical imaging is being used in these fields because of how helpful it is to skilfully determine the chemical composition of a specific sample and discover defects and contaminations. This article will discuss a brief overview of a chemical imaging system and why it is an important scientific technique.

What Exactly is a Chemical Imaging System?

A chemical imaging system is a tool used to monitor a sample’s physical and chemical properties in a dimensional method. This scientific technique can obtain data in the exterior area by gathering information in every specified location or pixel in x and y dimensions. Generally, this information can be converted into two-dimensional image data.

Through this method, chemical imaging can identify and quantify chemical components and their distribution on the surface of a visible sample. Common chemical imaging methods, such as MIR, Raman spectroscopy, and NIR, are utilized. In addition, chemical imaging can also assess a chemical agent’s grade, authenticity, volume, additives, precursors, biological material, and pharmaceutical formulations.

Application of Chemical Imaging System

A chemical imaging system may assess the identity, quantity, and quality of active ingredients, intermediates, and excipients in a bulk or solid dosage form, devices and packaging, and biological samples. Chemical imaging can extremely be utilized in the process of formulations such as tablets.

In terms of packaging, chemical imaging can also be used to identify and analyze the thickness of different layers of polymer films. A chemical imaging system can also determine if physical defects of any kind are present in a specific material. Additionally, chemical imaging can discover foreign particles and contaminations in the medical field.

Mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIR) has become a  fantastic scientific process in the pharmaceutical field because it is perfect for determining liquid, solid, and biotechnological pharmaceutical forms. Pharmacists and researchers can characterize drug formulations through MIR and determine drug release mechanisms.

MIR is also helpful in the pharmaceutical industry because it can assess reactions during production, quickly visualize the distribution of excipients and active components in tablets, and detect contaminants.

Common Chemical Imaging System Techniques

A chemical imaging system has different uses that change in different fields and applications. NIR, Raman Spectroscopy, MIR, and IR are four techniques used in chemical imaging.

1. Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy (MIR)

Mid-infrared spectroscopy combines advantages like non-intrusive operation and high recognition sensitivity. MIR may become a possible alternative compared to standard processes for determining and assessing food quality in the industry.

2. Infrared Chemical Imaging

Organisms, plastics, archaeological samples, and other materials are examined using infrared chemical imaging. This technique combines infrared spectroscopy with imaging to give spatially resolved information. Water has a high concentration of attenuation in the mid-IR, which limits infrared imaging in other sectors. The reason behind this is smaller pixels are produced by longer frequencies.

There were numerous attempts to improve the spatial resolution of water, requiring the use of microchannels and proper data analysis processing skills in order to successfully extract data from infrared imaging involving water.

3. Raman Spectroscopy

This chemical imaging technique provides details on a substance’s molecular structure, thermals and other properties through non-corrosive chemical assessment. Raman spectroscopy relies on the interaction between light and a covalent bond inside a molecule.

4. Near-Infrared Chemical Imaging (NIR-CI)

NIR-CI combines the effects of image analysis and near-infrared spectroscopy. Scientists use NIR-CI to represent the geographic variation of the biochemical properties found in a sample. Examining a sample with NIR-CI results in a hyperspectral image cube showing multiple spectra. Chemical imaging allows the assessment of the uniform distribution of different properties in a material.

Chemical Imaging Is An Important Technique!

Chemical imaging is an effective scientific technique that researchers and engineers of different fields and industries can use. Through chemical imaging, you can analyze and determine a sample’s chemical and physical composition as well as discover defects and contaminants. You can use different techniques like MIR and NIR to cater to different scientific analysis processes and methods for better results.

Must Read: The Benefits of Building a Metal Garage or Workspace