2
Oct, 2025
Infographic: how FTIR delivers the structural clarity and workflow efficiency needed to support the global scale-up of GLP-1 therapies.
This free resource from Specac explores how FTIR spectroscopy helps stabilise GLP-1 protein therapies by providing rapid, label-free insights into structural integrity across both solid and liquid formulations20
Aug, 2025
Are you missing contaminants? Why FTIR is still a must-have in pharma QC
Contamination in pharmaceutical manufacturing remains a persistent threat to both product safety and regulatory compliance. Drug products are vulnerable to a wide range of potential contaminants, ranging from trace solvents or chemical degradation products to process-related impurities (PRIs), equipment residues and raw material variations. Even a trace-level impurity can derail…Read article
17
Jul, 2025
The Power of FTIR Spectroscopy for Faster, Safer Pharmaceutical Formulations
Formulation scientists are tasked with transforming an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) into a stable, bioavailable and commercially viable dosage form, a journey which rarely proves straightforward. During formulation development and manufacturing, common issues such as polymorphic conversions, excipient incompatibilities, API degradation and real-time process drifts can all threaten product safety,…Read article
10
Jul, 2025
How FTIR Supports Quality Control of GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1RAs) have changed how type 2 diabetes and weight loss are treated. The success of drugs like liraglutide and semaglutide means global demand is rising fast, putting manufacturers under pressure to maintain high quality, purity and stability for these products. As peptide therapeutics, GLP-1RAs present…Read article
5
Jun, 2025
Infographic: Inside the Reaction – Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) for catalysis
This free infographic from Specac reveals how DRIFTS enables real-time, in situ analysis of surface chemistry, helping researchers monitor reaction intermediates, track adsorption/desorption events, and detect early signs of catalyst degradation. Here’s what’s included: Get your copy now and see how DRIFTS compares with other characterisation techniques – and why it’s a must-have in…Read article
16
Apr, 2025
Infographic: Solving reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction challenges with DRIFTS
Our latest infographic highlights the use of DRIFTS to study the reverse water-gas shift reaction, a classic catalysed reaction that is used to convert CO2 and H2 into CO and H2O. It is crucial for syngas, methanol, and synthetic fuel production in petrochemicals, chemical manufacturing, and green fuels. Global syngas…Read article
3
Apr, 2025
Best practice methods for reliable results from your DRIFTS setup
Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) is a powerful analytical technique for the study of powdered and rough surface materials. It is widely employed for quality control, materials characterisation and catalytic studies in both research and industrial settings. However, optimal sample preparation and instrument setup are crucial to obtain…Read article
20
Mar, 2025
Reverse water-gas shift innovation through DRIFTS: petrochemicals and beyond
A new dawn for carbon utilisation in petrochemicals Imagine a world where the very emissions once considered a burden have become the foundation for cleaner, more efficient fuels. The petrochemical industry is on the brink of achieving such a transformation. The landscape is shifting away from decades-old traditional processes that,…Read article
27
Feb, 2025
How real-time monitoring enhances petrochemical efficiency
Catalysts are the silent workhorses of the petrochemical industry, driving critical reactions in refining and chemical production. But what if you could optimise these catalysts in real-time, tuning them like a high-performance engine while your plant continues to run at full capacity? This is exactly what cutting-edge analytical technologies are…Read article
26
Feb, 2025
How DRIFTS is transforming the petrochemical industry
In the race to shape the future of petrochemical production, optimising catalytic processes has become a key focus for the industry. Ever-intensifying demand for cleaner fuels and stricter environmental regulations mean that unprecedented process efficiencies are needed to stay competitive. These innovations are being driven by diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier…Read article
21
Feb, 2025
Converting CO₂ to green methanol: a petrochemical breakthrough
Carbon dioxide is the most known greenhouse gas and a major contributor to climate change. To reduce its impact, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies (CCUS) offer a solution to turn CO2 into a valuable raw material. The petrochemical industry, one of the most concerned by climate change, is on…Read article
22
Jan, 2025
Fundamental catalyst research is key to advancing the global transition from fossil fuels
“The beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era is here, according to the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary speaking after the COP28 summit in 2023. The summit agreed on the first ‘global stocktake’ of climate actions that will help countries document their 2025 climate action plans in line…Read article
23
Dec, 2024
Infographic: Catalysts for change – driving efficiency in petrochemicals
Catalysts play an important role in many petrochemical processes. Better performing catalysts are a key area in the march to reduce energy consumption and remediate existing environmental pollution. Our new infographic highlights current and future directions in the development of catalysts and the role that advanced spectroscopy accessories like the…Read article
9
Dec, 2024
The road to net zero: developing catalysts to drive petrochemical sustainability
As we approach the end of 2024, it looks set to have been the hottest year on record. For the first time, the world breached the benchmark of 1.5°C warmer than pre-industrial times. Many organisations, industries and countries have pledged to reach net zero carbon emissions over the coming decades…Read article
8
Nov, 2024
Solutions for aqueous protein analysis by FTIR
The main application of FTIR to proteins has been the detection of relative conformational and structural changes induced by thermodynamic, chemical or biological perturbations [1-3]. However, it can also be used to quantify the concentration of standard solutions. Analysis of aqueous protein solutions presents a classic set of problems around…Read article
21
Mar, 2024
2024 Upcoming IR & Raman Courses with Jeff D’Agostino.
A few IR & Raman courses will be held at Glasgow, Scotland UK. The courses are ran jointly by experts in the field, including our own Jeff D’Agostino. Jeff will be teaching “Practical Vibrational Spectroscopy” and supporting “Interpretation of Infrared and Raman Spectra” Courses dates and details: Glasgow, Scotland UKInterpretation of…Read article
26
Oct, 2023
Infographic video: How to Make a Good KBr Pellet – a Step-by-step Guide
Are you struggling to create high-quality KBr pellets for your FT-IR spectroscopy experiments? Look no further! In this video, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of making a perfect KBr pellets, ensuring your samples yield accurate and reliable results.10
Jul, 2023
Diiscocyanate Quantification with the Pearl
Regulations are being implemented to monitor and limit the presence of unreacted isocyanates in products. It is therefore crucial for companies handling isocyanates to establish methods ensuring that their products contain less than 0.1 wt% of these compounds when leaving the factory. Diisocyanates are commonly used in various products like…Read article
30
Jun, 2023
What are the advantages and limitations of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for materials analysis?
Materials science is testing the boundaries of what is possible with chemistry and physics. Some of the most important scientific breakthroughs are being made in the field of materials science, particularly in fields working towards meeting demands for energy and consumer electronics. Materials scientists use FTIR spectroscopy to identify unknown…Read article
22
Feb, 2023
Types of ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy and Their Applications
What is ATR-FTIR spectroscopy? ATR stands for Attenuated Total Reflectance. It is a form of FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) sampling which uses a small amount of light, called an evanescent wave, to interrogate the shallow surface of a sample. The evanescent wave is generated where light undergoes total internal reflection…Read article
19
Jan, 2023
Sticking to the rules: Diiscocyanate Quantification with the Pearl
A Changing Regulatory Environment Diisocyanates are used in a variety of products, for instance as a precursor for adhesives and coatings. In theory the isocyanate should be fully reacted and pose little risk to the end consumer. However, if the reaction is incomplete, exposure to unreacted isocyanate can lead to…Read article
24
Nov, 2022
Spectroscopy of the interstellar medium
Astronomical spectroscopy of the interstellar medium has allowed the identification of more than 160 molecular species. These measurements are highly reliant on laboratory-based spectral predictions.1 In the infrared, several of the spectral bands apparent in spectra of many parts of the Milky Way and elsewhere in interstellar space are yet…Read article
21
Nov, 2022
Scientific applications of the Pearl: A Review
Investigating bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents Schmid et al. investigated ion lipid pairs as a proxy for the chemistry involved in the development of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria [1]. By studying simple chemical analogues for more complex biological systems insights can be gained and used to support the development of…Read article
16
Nov, 2022
Understanding reaction mechanisms at low temperature using IR spectroscopy
Isolating reaction intermediates Isolation of reaction intermediates at low temperature using inert matrices to prolong the reaction lifetimes was originally developed in the 1950’s, notably by Pimentel1 (amongst others). More recently polymers and other matrices have been used to isolate reactive intermediates generated by photolysis. For instance, Calladine et al….Read article
4
Oct, 2022
FTIR spectroscopy of gases for waste process treatments
For the purpose of measurement, gases are pumped into a sealed cell which is placed into the IR beam. The cells can be single pass cells, limited to pathlengths of up to around 10 cm or multi pass cells in which the IR beam is reflected several times through the…Read article
30
Sep, 2022
Investigation of pharmaceutical dosage forms with the Golden Gate
During the pre-formulation phase, studies may be undertaken to assess the effect of excipients or manufacturing processes on the stability, delivery, or bioavailability of the active ingredient. The bioavailability is mainly a function of its solubility in aqueous and lipid environments and therefore much research has been directed at ways…Read article
29
Sep, 2022
Amyloid Blood Biomarker Detects Alzheimer’s Disease
The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not well understood, it is believed that about 70% is inherited from parents, other factors which could possibly be a cause include a head injury, depression and hypertension. Mental and physical exercise, and avoiding obesity may decrease the of risk of Alzheimer’s disease, however…Read article
20
Sep, 2022
Catalytic FTIR studies using the HTHP Transmission Cell or the Praying Mantis High Temperature Reaction Chamber
The High Temperature/High Pressure (HTHP) cell is primarily designed for the analysis of solid pellets in transmission mode. The cell can also be used to analyse gases produced by the thermal decomposition of compounds and can also be adapted to collect reflection spectra from solid pellets. Harrick’s High Temperature Reaction…Read article
5
Sep, 2022
Increasing FTIR testing capacity following standard protocols using the Pearl: FAME Biodiesel case study
Several measurement standards exist for the quantification of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in biodiesel blends. One of these is EN 14078, which is an IR transmission measurement using liquid cell assemblies of various pathlengths for sampling in one of three concentration ranges. For the lowest range of approximately 0.05%…Read article
17
Aug, 2022
ATR-FTIR spectroscopy of biological samples
ATR-FTIR is seen as a quick and simple technique for IR analysis. Its low depth of penetration into the sample makes the task of analysing undiluted and minimally prepared samples extremely easy: as long as there is firm contact between the ATR reflection element and the sample, good spectra can…Read article
1
Jul, 2022
Quantifying Pharmaceuticals using the Specac Pearl
Quantification of the Active Pharmaceutical Product (API) in a finished product is vital to ensure the end consumer gets the correct dosage of the drug. Too little and the desired effect may not be achieved, too much and an overdose is given, in the worst case resulting in death. FTIR…Read article
14
Jun, 2022
ATR Spectroscopy of Carbon Black
Carbon black is commonly found as an additive in rubber, and used as supports for catalysts. To the untrained analyst these materials can provide some unexpected surprises when using ATR spectroscopy. Read on to discover how to avoid the common pitfalls… ATR spectroscopy relies upon total internal reflection within the…Read article
24
May, 2022
IR spectroscopy at every scale
Infrared spectroscopy can be used to measure samples from as small as a few microns all the way up to a few centimetres in size. We can use the technique to answer questions such as: What is this material? (identification) Where is it? (i.e. distribution of a component within a…Read article
12
Jan, 2022
High-temperature ATR measurements of soaps and food stuffs
Infrared spectroscopy reveals details about molecular bonding and structure by measuring the energy absorbed by the vibrational modes of molecules. Chemists are able to identify functional groups in the molecule via the characteristic peaks produced by them in an infrared spectrum. This is usually straightforward for pure samples or simple…Read article
10
Dec, 2021
Improving FTIR spectroscopy of in-service lubricants, viscous oils, and fuel blends
Infrared spectroscopy is routinely used for the analysis of lubricating oils, motor oils, greases, and fuel blends. Use of the technique is sufficiently well recognised for it to be included in several standard methods published by authorities such as ASTM, ISO, and British Standards. Standard methods for in-service oil condition…Read article
8
Dec, 2021
Operando FTIR spectroscopy of heterogeneous catalysts
Specac’s High Temperature High Pressure (HTHP) cell is used to investigate CO2 activation over supported Ni catalysts. The hydrogenation of CO2 to methane has been much studied but insights into the reaction mechanism remain to be uncovered. The Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis group at the University of Utrecht is focused…Read article
27
Oct, 2019
Polymer quality analysis | Spectroscopy Solution
Polymers are extremely important in modern manufacturing. Pretty much any multi-component product will contain polymer as part of its structure. The examples extend from cars to airplanes and kitchen equipment to televisions and personal electronics such as mobile phones. Each of these examples is comprised of multiple polymers with specific…Read article
14
Oct, 2019
Reducing NOₓ in Diesel Emissions | Spectroscopy Solutions
Air pollution and NOₓ emissions from diesel engines are a global concern due to their potential impacts on human health. Researchers worldwide are developing new and improved methods to reduce NOₓ emissions. Infrared spectroscopy in the gas phase, which is made possible using FTIR gas cells from Specac, has an…Read article
14
Oct, 2019
NEW: Silicon ATR Puck & Specular Reflectance ATR Puck
We have developed and released two new pucks for the Quest ATR accessory: Silicon and Specular Reflectance. Silicon ATR Puck for the Quest accessory Along with the standard options of diamond, ZnSe and germanium crystal puck options for use of Specac’s Quest ATR accessory, a new silicon crystal puck option…Read article
10
Jun, 2019
Detection of Polymer Impurities in Recycled Materials using Chemometric Analysis of ATR Spectroscopy
Recycling polymer materials is one method for reducing the amount of material sent to landfill. Ensuring this recycled material is the correct type of polymer is critical to its performance in various applications. ATR can be used as a rapid QC method for assessing the purity of recycled polymers. ATR…Read article
14
Mar, 2019
Characterizing Cancer-Fighting Lipopeptides | Sample Preparation
Lipopeptides are cyclic structures produced by Bacillus and Pseudomonas species. They are hydrophilic peptides, usually between 7 and 10 amino acids long, linked to a hydrophobic fatty acid structure. They are part of a class of compounds that have been shown to have medicinal properties. This was shown by the…Read article
14
Feb, 2019
Investigating adaptive camouflage | High Temperature High Pressure Cell
Adaptive camouflage in thermal imaging, a form of cloaking technology capable of blending objects naturally into the surrounding environment, has long been a great challenge. Now, the gap is narrowing, and new materials are being developed that could make cloaking devices for both visible and infra-red light a reality. Chameleons…Read article
14
Aug, 2018
Cannabis Oil Analysis using FTIR | Spectroscopy Solutions
A range of cannabis derivatives are commercially available for purchase across the world’s markets. Country-to-country, the legality of these products differs. In Europe, products that contain levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) higher than 0.2% are generally prohibited. That said, CBD (cannabidiol) isn’t restricted and is actually advertised as offering pharmaceutical benefits. Advertised benefits of consuming…Read article
15
Apr, 2018
Transformer oil FTIR testing | Spectroscopy Solutions
The United Kingdom is powered by a huge grid of pylons, conducting electricy across hundreds of miles. Thanks to this network of transmitters, we can switch on the lights, boil a kettle and visit the Specac website to read this article. Like any piece of equipment, pylons require maintenance. As high…Read article
14
Apr, 2018
Analyze wine using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy | Spectroscopy Solutions
Wine analysis using spectroscopy Spectroscopic technologies are one of the most common techniques used by the food and drink industries for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of their products. There are a host of different spectral techniques, each suited to detecting a particular type of chemical species or interaction. Within…Read article
14
Mar, 2018
Analyze FAME in Diesel using FTIR | Spectroscopy Solutions
Biodiesel is a promising alternative to diesel produced from fossil fuels, however barriers still exist towards the creation of high efficiency biodiesel. The fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) content of biodiesels significantly affects their quality and performance. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy using the Pearl™ liquid transmission unit from Specac…Read article
8
Feb, 2018
Fish Oil analysis using Pearl FTIR | Spectroscopy Solutions
Select Science recently interviewed Professor Gene S. Hall, who leads a research team in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. They are detecting fraudulent fish oil and their work includes the Pearl FTIR accessory. Gene spoke to Select Science about elements of his work…Read article
14
Dec, 2017
Milk analysis with Specac
For World Milk Day it seems only fitting that we explore some ways in which our equipment has been used for the testing and analysis of milk. FTIR detection of Casein in raw milk Casein is a protein present in milk and (in coagulated form) cheese. It is important to be…Read article
14
Apr, 2017
Legal high, cocaine and ketamine application note | Spectroscopy Solutions
Our Education Business Partnership collaboration with Mia Abbott and Staffordshire University has yielded a new application note on the confirmatory testing of the legal high mephedrone along with illegal drugs ketamine and cocaine and other cutting agents. Read the application note to see the actual results of Mia’s legal high…Read article
14
Oct, 2016
Oil in Water and FAME ASTM Standards | Spectroscopy Guides
In this article we will briefly look into various analysis standards, namely those of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) but also some others such as IP and EPA. Throughout, we’ll be mentioning the place our FTIR analytical equipment has in certain application areas. Standards for Oil in…Read article
14
Oct, 2016
On-site cannabis analysis using infrared spectroscopy | Spectroscopy Solutions
Cannabis is increasingly being recognised as a substance with therapeutic/medicinal value. This has led to a reduction in its regulation, and even its legalisation, by many different governments. As cannabis production becomes legalised and regulated it is important that manufacturers can assess the chemical content and potency of their plants. ATR…Read article
14
Oct, 2016
Carbon capture and utilization with ATR spectroscopy
Global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) have been increasing consistently over the past decades, with combustion of liquid and solid fuels accounting for 75% of emissions, while the emissions from cement production have more than doubled since the 1990s and now stand at over 5% of the total [1]. Specac…Read article
14
Jun, 2016
Micro-plastics and the Specac Diamond Compression Cell
The Environmental Audit Committee has called for a global ban on microbeads, minuscule plastic balls used by the cosmetic and cleaning industries for their abrasive properties (exfoliating face-wash, shower gel, toothpaste, etc). A Specac Diamond Compression (DC-3) Cell was used in a study mentioned below to assist in microplastic detection…Read article