“FTIR” and “absorbance spectroscopy” are terms that can be related, and the main difference lies in the specific technique and method of data collection.
- Absorbance Spectroscopy:
- General Term: Absorbance spectroscopy is a broad term that encompasses various techniques where the absorption of electromagnetic radiation is measured.
- Principle: In absorbance spectroscopy, the amount of light absorbed by a sample at different wavelengths is measured. This can include UV-Vis absorbance spectroscopy, where the absorption of ultraviolet or visible light is measured, or IR absorbance spectroscopy, where the absorption of infrared light is studied.
- FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared) Spectroscopy:
- Specific Technique: FTIR spectroscopy is a specific method within the broader category of absorbance spectroscopy.
- Principle: FTIR measures the absorption of infrared radiation by a sample. It involves the use of an interferometer and Fourier transformation to obtain the infrared spectrum, which represents the absorbance or transmittance of the sample at different infrared frequencies.
- Advantages: FTIR is known for its high sensitivity, speed, and ability to provide detailed information about the vibrational modes of molecules.
Key Differences:
- Scope: Absorbance spectroscopy is a general term that includes various methods of measuring absorption, while FTIR spectroscopy specifically focuses on the absorption of infrared radiation.
- Instrumentation: Traditional absorbance spectroscopy methods may use different types of instruments depending on the region of the electromagnetic spectrum being studied (UV-Vis spectrophotometer, IR spectrophotometer, etc.). FTIR, as a specific technique, uses an interferometer and Fourier transformation for data collection.
- Data Collection: Absorbance spectroscopy can involve scanning through individual wavelengths, while FTIR spectroscopy collects interferograms over a range of frequencies and then transforms them to obtain a spectrum.
Absorbance spectroscopy is a broad term referring to techniques that measure the absorption of electromagnetic radiation, including UV-Vis and IR methods. FTIR spectroscopy is a specific type of absorbance spectroscopy that focuses on the absorption of infrared radiation, using a Fourier-transform approach for data collection and analysis.
Find out more at our Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis Laboratory
