Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) is a well-established and proven analytical technique for the identification of unknown chemicals. The method relies on the microscopic interaction of infrared light with chemical matter via a process of absorption and results in a pattern of bands called a spectrum. This spectrum is unique to the chemical and acts like a “molecular fingerprint” in the same way a human’s fingerprint is distinct.

FT-IR exploits the intrinsic properties of a chemical, in addition to being broadly-applicable. These features make FT-IR very amenable to spectral library-matching. With the help of an extensive database, the library-matching approach makes it possible to identify rapidly thousands of chemicals based on their distinct “molecular fingerprint”.