FT-NIR Process Monitoring

Today many manufacturers are striving not only to produce the highest quality final product but also to improve manufacturing efficiency by taking analysis technology from the laboratory and applying it in their plants. By gaining tighter control over the manufacturing process, it is possible to optimize the use of materials and reduce or eliminate the production of off-specification material, thus avoiding reprocessing or disposal costs.

The advantages of real time, on-line FT-NIR analysis have been well established. However, conventional spectrometers can only be installed close to the process that they are monitoring, which makes the analyzer be exposed to a hostile environment, like drastic temperature changes and exposure to dust and dirt. Furthermore, the instrument needs to be positioned in hard-to-access and often Ex-protected area.

By using fiber optics technology, the difficult to reach measurement points can be accessed by industry hardened fiber optic probes, while the MATRIX-F is positioned, e.g. in an analysis house. Bruker Optics offers complete solutions for various on-line analysis tasks.

Common process control applications include direct monitoring of chemical reactions and quality of intermediate and final products:

• Direct measurement in process reactors or pipelines, over webs or conveyor belts.
• Remote measurements over long distances.
• Improved process understanding and control.
• Ideal tool for determination of homogeneity of blending processes, concentrations of constituent chemicals and state of polymerization processes in various industries.