Alpha-1000 SPECTROPHOTOMETER USER’S MANUAL V 1.0 Revision 0 Laxco, Inc. http://www.laxcoinc.
Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................... 4 Working Principle ...................................................................................................... 4 Specifications ............................................................................................................ 5 Unpacking Instructions..............................................................................................
Introduction The Alpha-1000 is a single beam spectrophotometer, which is designed to meet the needs of both students and instructors. Its digital display, easy operation, and wavelength range of 400 nm to 1000 nm makes this unit ideal for spectrophotometric experiments in the visible wavelength region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Specifications Table-1 lists the specification for the Alpha-1000. Table-1 Wavelength Range Spectral Slit Width Wavelength Accuracy Wavelength Readability Stray Radiant Energy Photometric Range Photometric Accuracy Data Output * Power Requirements Dimensions Net Weights 400~1000 nm 15 nm ± 3 nm 1 nm ≤ 2%T at 400 nm 0%T to 125%T, -0.3A to 2.0A, Better than ± 2.0%T USB & RS232 85-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz.
Unpacking Instructions Carefully unpack the contents and check the materials against the following packing list to ensure that you have received everything in good condition: Packing List Description Quantity Spectrophotometer ............................................................................................................ Power Cord....................................................................................................................... Cuvette (round) ............................
Wavelength Readout Window: Displays desired wavelength. USB port: It is used for connecting to Computer with Application Software RS232: It is used for Firmware upgrading. Digital Display Sample Compartment Operation Instructions .
Power Switch Power Socket Air Vent Cooling Fan Figure-3 USB Port RS-232 Back view of Alpha-1000 Changing Sample Holders Your Alpha-1000 comes standard with the A-110-102 Sample Holder. We offer three additional holders as optional accessories. Please refer to Table-3 “Alpha-1 Series Parts List” in Alpha-1 Series Parts List of this manual for details.
Lock Screw Figure-4 Changing Sample Holders Figure-5 Allen Wrench Basic Operation Simple OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS are printed on the front panel of your Alpha1000. Absorbance and Transmittance Measurement Making a measurement of absorbance and transmittance is a two-step process. In the first step, a test tube filled with a transparent solution is placed into the sample compartment.
The step-by-step procedure for making an absorption/transmittance measurement is as follows: 1. Turn on the spectrophotometer by pressing the power switch (the power switch is located on the right side of the back of the instrument.) In order to stabilize the lamp and detector; allow the instrument to warm up for at least 15 minutes. 2. Turn the wavelength control knob to the desired wavelength. 3.
blanking solution is placed into the sample compartment. If not, repeat the blanking process again. Lamp Changing 1. Remove any cuvettes from the sample compartment. 2. Unplug your spectrophotometer and turn it upside down. Locate the screw that holds the lamp housing in place (refer to the diagram shown below). 3. Remove the screw and retain. BE CAREFUL, THE BULB MAY BE HOT. 4. Remove the old bulb and place the leads of the new bulb into the holes in the lamp socket.
Caution Bulb can be VERY HOT Figure-7 Bulb View of the Alpha-1000 Lamp Adjustment The position of your lamp has been factory adjusted to its optimal setting. Follow these steps below for adjusting the lamp position. These steps should NOT be needed! Unfortunately, one should COMPLETELY close the light chamber between adjustment settings attempts. The bulb is driven by high voltage. Plus, the light output is blinding and will cause eye damage if directly viewed with the unprotected eye. 1.
4. Once the optimum position has been obtained, verify that the lamp chamber door is secure and all items are returned to their original state except the lamp bracket position. Absorbance Accuracy and Stray Light Checking Specification: ± 2% at 1A (100DPlus), ± 1% at 1A and 2A. The absorbance accuracy and Stray Light should be checked against a set of neutral density filters accurately calibrated to the NIST standards. Contact Customer Service for more information.
The transmittance varies from 0 to 100. A transmittance of 0%T represents complete absorption by the sample, whereas 100%T represents no absorption by the sample. The absorbance (A) is defined as: A= log (1/T). When the transmittance is 100% (T=1), A=log (1) = 0 and increases as the transmittance decreases. The maximum value of the absorbance read by the Alpha-1000 is 2.0. This represents a Transmittance of: T=1/102.0 or about 1%. This is a very small transmittance and is essentially zero.
Experiment 2 Measurement of an Absorption Spectrum The absorption spectrum of a substance helps identify it. In this experiment, you will measure the absorbencies of Cr3+ (chromium III ions) at a series of wavelengths in the visible light region and draw its absorption spectrum. The materials required for this experiment are 20 ml 0.5M Cr3+ (aq) solution and two round cuvettes. Procedure: 1. Place the wavelength dial at a position of 400 nm and adjust the second order filter lever position. 2.
The materials required for this experiment are 500 ml 0.04 g/l thymol blue solution, 40 ml 1 M HCL (aqueous), a 50 ml burette, a 10 ml graduated cylinder, a 100 ml volumetric flask, five round cuvettes, and four Erlenmeyer flasks. Procedure: 1. Fill the burette to the top calibration line (50 ml) with the thymol blue stock solution. 2. Deliver 5 ml of the thymol blue solution from the burette into the volumetric flask. Measure 10 ml HCL (aq) in a graduated cylinder and add to the flask.
flasks, a 2 ml pipette, a 10 ml pipette, six 25 ml test tubes, six round or square cuvettes, and a hot plate. Procedure: 1. Fill the burette to the top calibration line (50 ml) with the glucose stock solution. Deliver 5 ml of the glucose solution from the burette into the volumetric flask. Dilute the flask to the mark with de-ionized water, cape the flask, and mix the diluted solution thoroughly. Transfer this first standard to an Erlenmeyer flask, calculate its concentration, and label the flask.
axis absorbance and mark it in equal intervals from 0 to a convenient round value above your highest data point. 2. Plot absorbance versus concentration for the four standards. Draw the best straight line through the origin and the four points. 3. Using the working graph determine the concentration of the unknown solution. 4. Multiply the concentration of the unknown by 1000 to get the concentration of glucose in the original soft drink.
6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Transfer the solution from the beaker to the 100 ml volumetric flask. Dilute the de-ionized water and mix thoroughly. This is your diluted extraction solution. Filter 20 ml of the diluted extraction mixture through filter paper in a gravity funnel into a flask or beaker. Wash the volumetric flask thoroughly with de-ionized water. Pipette 10 ml of the diluted extraction solution into the flask, dilute to the mark, and mix thoroughly.
Parts List Table-3 Alpha-1 Series Parts List Item Number A-1000 Accessories A-100-101 Description Model Alpha-1000 Spectrophotometer 15 nm Band pass Wavelength range: 400~1000 nm. Complete with 10 mm Test Tube Cuvettes (12 pcs.
Troubleshooting PROBLEM Instrument Inoperative (Power indicator has no light) Possible Cause Power cord not connected to outlet Internal fuse blown or defective electronic component Solution Plug instrument in Call an authorized service engineer Instrument cannot be set to 100%T (0.
PROBLEM Instrument drift and noise Possible Cause Solution No sufficient warm up time Significant temperature change Lamp not adjusted properly Check lamp has been properly installed or has moved during transit Refer to Lamp Replacement instructions in this manual Replace with a new lamp Lamp old or defective Incorrect readings obtained Sample Holder Misaligned Refer to Lamp Replacement instructions in this manual Unstable power supply Defective or dirty detector or defective electronic component I
