FTIR Spectroscopy

In FTIR spectroscopy, a broad spectrum of infrared light is passed through the sample. The sample absorbs specific wavelengths corresponding to the vibrational energies of its molecular bonds and the non-absorbed light wavelengths are detected and transformed into an infrared spectrum using a Fourier transform algorithm. The characteristic absorption bands in the infrared spectrum correspond to specific functional groups, and the compounds in the sample can be identified by molecular fingerprinting against a spectral database. Its rapid chemical analysis with limited to no sample preparation makes FTIR spectroscopy a highly popular analytical technique.