Integration of fluorescence detection capability into light absorbance measurement apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is apparatus (1) for measuring fluorescence and absorbance of a substance in a sample, said apparatus (1) comprising: a flow cell (2) for containing a sample, a first light source (3), a first conductor (5) for transmitting light from the first light source (3) to the flow cell (2) for irradiating a sample contained therein, a second conductor (7) for transmitting light from the flow cell (2) to a sample detector (9) arranged to detect an electromagnetic radiation that has passed through said cell (2), and a processing unit (16) arranged to receive a first signal (31) from a reference detector (15) and a second signal (32) from the sample detector (9) and to determine an absorbance based on said first and second signals (31,32), said apparatus (1) further comprising a second light source (4), a third conductor (6) for transmitting light from the second light source (4) to the cell (2) and wherein the sample detector (9) is further arranged to also detect fluorescence signals in the light that has passed through the flow cell (2). The invention also relates to a method for measuring the absorbance and the fluorescence of a substance in a sample.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for detecting light absorbance and fluorescence of substances in a sample. Background technique [0002] Precise detection of various properties of a sample is a domain that has multiple applications in different fields of technology. For example, within liquid chromatography, detection of fluorescence is often required to determine the amount of a chemical element in a sample. However, fluorescence detection devices are often expensive and bulky because they combine high sensitivity and wavelength selectivity. For example, as is known from CN2856989, spectrometers are often used to detect fluorescent signals at different wavelengths. [0003] Other methods for measuring fluorescence are also known, such as through the use of fiber optic probes connected to lower cost optical spectrometers and to be immersed in the sample. A more cost-effective device is thereby achieved, but with a much lower sen...

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This enables a more cost-effective device, but at a much lower sensitivity

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