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Hands-on Soil Infrared Spectroscopy Training Course Getting the best out of light 11 15 November 2013 Fundamentals of infrared spectroscopy Elvis Weullow

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INFRARED SPECTRSCOPY Vibrational spectroscopy (or IR spectroscopy): measures transitions from one molecular vibrational energy level to another, and requires radiation from the IR portion of the ER spectrum. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy: (also called electronic absorption spectroscopy) involves transitions among electronic energy levels of the molecule, which require radiation from the UV visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Such transitions alter the configuration of the valence electrons in the molecule. Increasing Frequency Increasing Wavelength X-RayVisNIRMIR FIR, Microwave UV 200 nm380 nm780 nm 2,500 nm25,000 nm 50,000 cm -1 12,820 cm -1 4,000 cm -1 400 cm -1

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IR PRINCIPLES Each molecular vibrational motion occurs with a frequency characteristic of the molecule and of the particular vibration. The energy of the vibration is measured by its amplitude (the distance moved by the atoms during the vibration), so the higher the vibrational energy, the larger the amplitude of the motion. According to quantum mechanics, only certain vibrational energies are allowed to the molecule (this is also true of rotational and translational energies), so only certain amplitudes are allowed. For a vibrational mode to absorb IR radiation, the vibrational motion associated with that mode must produce a change in the dipole moment of the molecule

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Vibrations Modes of vibration CH Stretching Bending COH Symmetrical 2853 cm -1 Asymmetrical 2926 cm -1 Scissoring 1450 cm -1 Rocking 720 cm -1 Wagging 1350 cm -1 Twisting 1250 cm -1 Stretchingfrequency Bendingfrequency

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Infrared radiation VNIR 350nm to 2500nm, NIR 12500cm -1 to 8000 cm -1 MIR 8000 cm -1 to 4000 cm -1 Bonds subject to vibrational energy changes => continually vibrate in different ways: Energy absorption in IR region then occurs & translated into absorption spectrum. Antisymmetrical stretching Symmetrical stretching Rocking Wagging Twisting Scissoring Source : www.wikipedia.org/ 5 IR PRINCIPLES

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IR SPECTROSCOPY Foundation The IR region spans the wavelength range of 12500 -400 wavenumbers, in which absorption bands correspond mainly to overtones and combinations of fundamental vibrations. The vibration of molecules can be described using the harmonic oscillator model, by which the energy of the different, equally spaced levels can be calculated from E vib = (+1/2)h/2(k/) Where is the vibrational quantum number, h the plancks constant K the force constant and the reduced mass of the bonding atoms. Only those transitions between consecutive energy levels (=1) that cause a change in dipole moment are possible. E=E rad =h Where is the fundamental vibrational frequency of the bond that yields an absorption band in the mid IR region.

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IR Principles For soils Different clay types have very distinct spectral signatures in the near infrared region because of strong absorption of the overtones of SO 4 2-, CO 3 2- and OH -, and combinations of fundamental features of, for example, H 2 O and CO 3 2 Absorption due to charge transfer and crystal field effects in Fe 2+ and Fe 3+ is particularly evident at 0.35 to 1.0 nm. Soil spectra are a product of many overlapping absorption features of organic and mineral materials they generally have few distinct absorption features. This makes qualitative interpretation of individual features of limited value, but even subtle differences in shape can yield quantitative information on soil properties.

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IR INSTRUMENTATION IR equipment can incorporate a variety of devices depending on the characteristics of the sample and the particular analytical conditions and needs (such as speed, sample complexity and environmental conditions), so the technique is very flexible. Classification of Modern IR Instruments Filter based instruments: -Here filters are used as wavelength selectors, commercially available for dedicated applications. For example, an instrument for determination of the quality parameters of gasoline (Zeltex Inc.) employs 14 interference (Fabri-Perrot) filters and 14 LED (Light Emitting Diode) sources in the NIR region. LED based instruments:Using Light Emitting Diodes (LED) in the field, price and size of the instrument can be reduced, produce NIR radiation with a band width of about 30-50 nm. LEDs function as both the light source and the wavelength selection system, typically cover the range 4001700 nm. They have the advantages that the measurement is very fast (e.g. one spectrum per second) and noninvasive. These features are particularly useful where a high sample throughput or ultra-rapid on-line measurements are required.

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IR INSTRUMENTATION Dispersive optics-based instruments: These are instruments based on grating monochromators, offer advantage of longer life, relatively low cost, when compared with other scanning instruments employing modern technologies. The main limitations are the slow scan speed and a lack of wavelength precision, which deteriorates for long term operation due to mechanically driven mechanism fatigue. Also, the presence of moving parts limits the use of dispersive instruments in the field and in more aggressive environments. It is mainly employed in the control of sugar and alcohol production, also on a truck to monitor the content of protein, oil and humidity in real time during grain harvest.

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IR INSTRUMENTATION AOTF based instruments Acousto-Optical Tunable Filters (AOTF) are modern scan spectrophotometers offer advantage of constructing instruments with no moving parts, very high scan speeds, broad NIR spectral region, random access to any number of wavelengths. The scan speed is usually limited by the detector response time. An AOTF comprises a crystal of TeO 2 through which a plane traveling acoustic wave is generated at right angles to the incident light beam

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IR INSTRUMENTATION Fourier-transform based instruments: These instruments are based on the use of interferometers and Fourier transform to recover the intensities of individual wavelengths in the IR region are, undoubtedly, the instruments combining most of the best characteristics in terms of wavelength precision and accuracy, high signal-to-noise ratio and scan speed.Typical wavelength accuracy is better than 0.05 nm and the resolution can achieve values below 1 nm in the NIR region.

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COMMON NIR/MIR DETECTORS USED

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To separate IR light, a grating is used. Grating Light source Detector Sample Slit To select the specified IR light, A slit is used. Dispersion Spectrometer In order to measure an IR spectrum, the dispersion Spectrometer takes several minutes. Also the detector receives only a few % of the energy of original light source. Fixed CCM B.S. Moving CCM IR Light source Sample Detector An interferogram is first made by the interferometer using IR light. The interferogram is calculated and transformed into a spectrum using a Fourier Transform (FT). FTIR In order to measure an IR spectrum, FTIR takes only a few seconds. Moreover, the detector receives up to 50% of the energy of original light source. (much larger than the dispersion spectrometer.) Comparison Between Dispersion Spectrometer and FTIR

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FOURIER TRANSFORM IR Fourier transform (FT) relates to a mathematic way to convert rapidly collected time domain data to spectra that we can interpret. The FT spectrometer works by splitting an IR beam into two. When these recombine, the light waves interfere constructively or destructively, creating theinterferogram which is the time domain signal.

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Interferometer interferogram Output of a Laser interferometer Primary interferometer interferogram that was sampled Optical path difference x Sampling of an actual interferogram

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Instrumentation Dispersive VNIR FT-NIR FT-MIRHandheld NIR/MIR Portable Repeatability? External service No validation Benchtop Repeatability *** Self serviceable Validation in-built ISO compliant Industry proven Multipurpose Benchtop Repeatability*** No gas purging Some servicing Robotic Validation in-built ISO compliant Outperforms NIR Liquid Nitrogen required Handheld Sample homogeneity? Variable moisture? Repeatability? Still expensive Rapidly developing Need to prepare by developing soil reference libraries FT-MIR Benchtop Miniaturized MIR instrument Repeatability*** No gas purging Some servicing Validation in-built ISO compliant Outperforms NIR ATR accessory can be attached to it. Does not use liquid nitrogen

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Advantages of FTIR Speed: analysis done in a very short time. Sensitivity: detectors used are more sensitive and offer high optical throughput. Mechanical simplicity: Few moving parts (only interferometer) hence rugged. Internal calibration: HeNe laser used as an internal wavelength calibration standard hence no need for external calibration.

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MIR and NIR Spectra Mid-Infrared Absorption Soil Spectrum Near-Infrared Absorption Soil Spectrum

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EXAMPLES OF APLICATION OF INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY Soils high-throughputs soil analysis, mapping and monitoring of soil properties, remote sensing, digital soil mapping, precision agriculture, monitoring schemes for good agricultural practice and environmental services payments schemes, sediment analysis, soil pollution, mobile rural IR spectroscopy soil testing services. Crop agronomy/breeding/plant sciences Tissue testing and crop response, Germplasm screening /breeding, seed viability/treatment, metabolomics relating plant tissue biochemical fingerprints to ecological factors Crop and livestock products quality and processing grain quality and storage, cash crops- tea and coffee etc, fruits and vegetables, Beverages and juice, Dairy products butter, cheese, Meat, Wood and paper, Biofuels. Water quality Long term monitoring of aquatic systems and Heavy metals pollution of fresh water sediments e.g. Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, Fe in sediments Etc.