Raman system for API and excipient analysis now available in UK and Ireland

Analytik has announced the UK and Ireland release of the SciAps Inspector 500 SWIR Raman system for the pharmaceutical analysis of APIs and excipients, including cellulose-based materials like microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), croscarmellose, nutrients like folic acid and other complex molecules.

The Inspector 500 features shortwave-infrared Raman technology as well as a 1030 nm laser and detector. According to Analytik, the laser suppresses fluorescence, allowing for even highly fluorescing compounds to be easily analysed, including those complex APIs and excipients that traditional 785 nm lasers cannot analyse. MCC is a particularly good example because it can be modified to different degrees of crystallinity, usually in the range of 40 to 60%. The Raman peaks from MCC that have a higher proportion of amorphous material (i.e. less crystallinity) will be broader with the 785 nm laser, thus requiring the 1030 nm Inspector 500 for verification.

Equally important, the detector operates with very low power consumption so no fans or ultralight batteries are required. The result is a lightweight Raman analyser that may be used all day long. It is easily cleaned to avoid sample contamination or cross contamination. The Inspector 500 is the world's first and only 1 µm laser system to offer so many user benefits: it defeats fluorescence, is light weight, has easy one-handed operation and is environmentally sealed.

Engineered specifically for the analysis of high-fluorescence samples, for example those samples with complex molecules or many contaminants as encountered in a pharmaceutical laboratory, the Inspector 500 supports advanced chemometric algorithm processing which is required for materials that are difficult to discriminate.

To summarise, the Inspector 500: expands the number of samples that can be identified; is capable of rapid response times thanks to on-board processing; can support advanced algorithms and large library processing; features a 4.3” TFT LCD touchscreen display; offers a jog wheel option for menu selection; and provides multiple sampling options (the vial holder for powders and liquids supports multiple sized vials and incorporates the NuScope adapter for Raman microscopy).

Analytik Ltd, www.analytik.co.uk.