Purpose: Categories of Liquids & Types of Samples Measurable in the VISTA Spectrophotometer
The Transmittance & Optical Property Measurements of these categories:
- Transmission Spectrophotometry helps assess clarity, purity, color, and contamination.
- Optical Indices such as haze, color (CIELAB, Yellowness Index, APHA), and absorbance.
- Industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, petrochemicals, and optics require stringent quality control using spectrophotometric analysis.
Below is a comprehensive list of liquid categories and examples of specific samples that are routinely analyzed for transmittance and optical properties using the VISTA spectrophotometer:
1. Hydrocarbons & Petroleum-Based Liquids used in the chemical, energy, and materials industries.
Types of Samples:
- Aromatic Hydrocarbons → Benzene, Toluene, Xylene (BTX), Styrene
- Aliphatic Hydrocarbons → Hexane, Heptane, Paraffin Oils
- Petroleum Distillates → Naphtha, Kerosene
- Lubricants & Hydraulic Fluids → Synthetic Oils, Silicone Oils
2. Alcohols, Glycols, & Organic Solvents Used in Pharmaceuticals, industrial manufacturing, and personal care.
Types of Samples:
- Alcohol → Ethanol, Methanol, Isopropanol, Butanol
- Glycols → Ethylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Glycerol
- Ketones → Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
- Esters → Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate
- Chlorinated Solvents → Chloroform, Dichloromethane
3. Edible Oils & Fats Used in the Food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.
Types of Samples:
- Vegetable Oils → Soybean Oil, Canola Oil, Sunflower Oil
- Fruit-Based Oils → Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Coconut Oil
- Animal-Derived Oils → Fish Oil, Lard, Tallow
- Specialty Oils → Essential Oils, CBD Oil
4. Fuels & Energy Liquids Used in Energy, transportation, and aviation.
Types of Samples:
- Gasoline & Diesel → Automotive & Industrial Fuels
- Jet Fuels → Kerosene-Based Aviation Fuels
- Biofuels → Biodiesel, Ethanol Blends
- Heating Oils → Light & Heavy Fuel Oils
5. Water & Aqueous Solutions Used in Pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and laboratory applications.
Types of Samples:
- Purified & Ultra-Pure Water → Laboratory & Pharmaceutical-Grade Water
- Brines & Salt Solutions → Saline, Seawater, Electrolyte Solutions
- Acids & Bases → Sulfuric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide Solutions
- Dissolved Chemical Solutions → Sugar Solutions, Buffer Solutions
6. Beverages & Food Liquids Used in Food & beverage quality control.
Types of Samples:
- Alcoholic Beverages → Beer, Wine, Spirits, Distilled Alcohols
- Juices & Soft Drinks → Citrus Juices, Carbonated Beverages
- Syrups & Concentrates → Corn Syrup, Maple Syrup, Liquid Sweeteners
- Dairy-Based Liquids → Milk, Whey Protein Solutions
7. Pharmaceutical & Cosmetic Liquids Used in Drug formulation, skincare, and cosmetic quality control.
Types of Samples:
- Liquid Medications → IV Solutions, Oral Suspensions
- Perfumes & Fragrances → Essential Oil Blends, Alcohol-Based Fragrances
- Lotions & Serums → Skincare Liquids, Emulsified Lotions
- Cosmetic Oils → Mineral Oils, Carrier Oils
8. Specialty & Industrial Liquids Used in Manufacturing, research, and engineering.
Types of Samples:
- Polymers & Resins → Liquid Epoxies, Polyurethane Solutions
- Paints & Coatings → Clear Coats, Lacquers, UV-curable resins
- Coolants & Antifreeze → Ethylene Glycol-Based Coolants
- Photographic & Imaging Solutions → Developer Solutions, Fixers
9. Biological & Biomedical Liquids Used in Medical research and diagnostic testing.
Types of Samples:
- Blood Plasma & Serum → Used for optical clarity and protein concentration analysis
- Cell Culture Media → Growth Medium in Biotech Applications
- Urine & Biological Fluids → Used in Diagnostics and Drug Testing
- Tissue Processing Liquids → Fixatives & Embedding Media
10. Optical & Electronic Industry Liquids Used in Semiconductor and precision optical industries.
Types of Samples:
- Optical Lens Cleaning Fluids → High-Purity Alcohol & Solvent Mixtures
- Photoresists & Developer Solutions → Semiconductor Lithography Chemicals
- Silicone-Based Liquids → Optical Encapsulation Materials