Cuvette
A cuvette (French: cuvette = "little vessel") is a small tube with a circular or square cross section, sealed at one end, made of plastic, glass, or fused quartz (for UV light) and designed to hold samples for spectroscopic experiments. A beam of light can pass through two clear sides and the absorbance value can be observed by using a spectrophotometer.
Overview
Performing ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy or fluorescence spectroscopy typically uses samples that are liquid - either a liquid substance or a substance dissolved in some solvent. The liquid sample is placed in a cuvette that is then placed in a spectrophotometer for testing. The cuvette can be made of any material that is transparent in the range of wavelengths being tested. Quartz is the highest quality, but various types of plastic or glass can also be used for economical reasons.
The size of the cuvette determines how long the light path is able to travel through the sample. For many applications, a 1 cm cuvette is used. Cuvettes typically have two parallel sides that are transparent so that the spectrophotometer light can pass through, but some tests can be performed by reflection and therefore only need a single transparent side. For fluorescence, two more parallel sides, perpendicular to the ones used for the spectrophotometer light, are needed for the excitation light.[1] Cuvettes are typically 10 mm thick, allowing light to easily pass through. The thickness and sizes of cuvette affects the calculation of absorbance value. Some cuvettes have a glass or plastic cap for use with hazardous solutions, but others do not.[2] [3]
History
In 1934, James Franklin Hyde created a combined silica cell, which is free from other extraneous elements, as a liquefying technique of other glass products. In the 1950s, Starna Ltd. idealized the method to completely melt an optical segment of glass by using heat without deformation of its shape. This innovation has altered the production of inert cuvettes without any thermosetting resin.[4] Before the rectangular cuvette was created, researchers used standard test tubes for laboratory work. As innovation motivated changes in technique, cuvettes were constructed to have focal points over ordinary test tubes.
Types of Cuvette
Different UV ranges can be analyzed using different types of cuvette. The smallest units are capable of holding 70 µL, while the largest can test samples of 2.5 mL or more.[5] Some cuvettes will be clear only on opposite sides, so that a single beam of light can pass through them. Cuvettes used in fluorescence spectroscopy must be clear on all four sides, as fluorescence is measured at a right-angle to the beam path to limit contributions from the beam itself.[6] Some cuvettes, known as tandem cuvettes, have a glass barrier medium that extends two-thirds of the way up in the middle of the container, so that measurements can be taken with two solutions separated, and again when they are mixed. Typically, cuvettes are 10 mm (0.39 in) in width, to allow for easy calculations of coefficients of absorption. To measure the sample, the transparent side must be placed toward the light in the spectrophotometer. For accurate measurement, these testing tubes should be cleaned and scratch-free.[7] Cuvettes to be used in circular dichroism[8] experiments should never be mechanically stressed, as the stress will inducebirefringence[9] in the quartz and affect the measurements made. There are several different types of cuvettes commonly used; each type has different usable wavelengths at which its transparency exceeds 80%:
Disposable plastic cuvette
Disposable plastic cuvettes are often used in fast spectroscopic assays, where high speed is more important than high accuracy. Plastic cuvettes, with a wavelength from 380 to 780 nm (visible spectrum), is easily expendable and thus disposed of once used, preventing contamination risk from reusing cuvettes.[10] Due to its low expense of manufacture, it is one of the cheapest types. Plastic cuvettes are accessible for UV measuring. This type of cuvettes is useful as it can be disposed and relatively low in price. Disposable cuvette can be used in some laboratory where beam light is not high enough to affect the absorption tolerance and consistency of the value.[11]
Glass cuvette
Optical Glass has an optimal wavelength range of 340 - 2,500 nm. Glass cuvettes are typically for use in the wavelength range of visible light, whereas fused quartz tends to be used for ultraviolet (UV) applications.
Optical glass, or more technically, Optical Crown Glass, is manufactured from alkali-lime silicates containing around 10% potassium oxide. It typically has a refractive index of ≈1.52.
Quartz cuvette
Quartz cells provide more durability compared to plastic and glass. Quartz excels at transmitting UV light, and can be used for wavelengths ranging 190-2500 nm.[12]
Fused quartz cuvette
Fused quartz cells are used for wavelength transmission below 380 nm (ultraviolet spectrum). The optical combined quartz cuvette has a higher purification compared with other types of quartz.[13]
Fused silica cuvette
ES quartz has a usable wavelength range of 190 to 2,000 nm, and a matching tolerance of 1% at 220 nm. ES quartz is composed of a suprasil giving a marginally high quality of quartz over UV cuvette. High transmission in low nano-meter range is available for ES quartz cuvette. [13]
Infrared quartz cuvette
IR quartz has a usable wavelength range of 220 to 3,500 nm, and a matching tolerance of 1% at 2,730 nm. IR quartz cuvette is resisted chemical solution than other types designed for fluorescence measurements. The path-lengths are available at 5 mm up until 40 mm with 1.25 mm thickness. [14]
Sapphire cuvette
Sapphire cuvettes are the most expensive, though provide the most durable, scratch-resistant, and transmissible material. The transmission extends from UV light to mid-infrared, ranging from 250 to 5,000 nm. Sapphire withstands extreme natural condition of sample solutions and variances in temperature.[12]
Cuvette Calibration
The cuvette calibration has a great effect on the absorbance measurement. Many variables need to be considered to ensure precision and accuracy. The spectrophotometric measurement is sensitive to the change in volume. The calibration cuvette helps scientists to convert the volume data from relative value units to the true volume with the less uncertainty. The cuvette adjustment is important for laboratory technicians who acquiring a precise estimation of the volume of solution.[15] In the laboratory facility, sometimes a round glass cuvette is frequently utilized. The adjusted cuvette that has been aligned and sold in the market is expensive in comparison with the cost of normal glass tubes. The glass cell costs approximately 30 times more than an ordinary glass tube. In turn, the cuvettes do the most appropriate sort of spectrophotometer, but in the some researches need the great number of cuvette and can be costly. A high quality glass tube as calibrated can give similar result as a cuvette. However, the manually calibrated cuvette has less consistency. The adjustment and position of the tube affect the reading value of the absorbance as the light goes through the sample controlled by the width of the cuvette. The distance traveled by light and the concentration of solution influence the estimation of absorbance. The appropriate wavelength and type of cuvette is the main component for measuring the correct absorbance with manually calibrating the cuvette.[16]
Standard Technique
Stress factors in cuvette induces the expected measurement and possibly causes errors. Erroneousness in the spectrophotometer such as light distribution can occur when light hits the scratched cuvette. A rubber or plastic rack protects the cuvette from accidentally hitting and being scratched by the machine casing. The type of solvent used, temperature, and the wavelength of the light affect the measurement at different levels of light transmitted through the cuvette.[17]
Low-lint gauze or tissue paper is used to wipe clean the outer surface of the cuvette before usage. Fingerprints or droplets of water disrupt the reflection of light rays during the measurement. In case the pasture pipette contains air during transfer the solution, bubbles inside the cuvette reduce the purity of a solution and cause light beams to be more scattered. The finger-clad finger method is used to remove bubbles. The solution contained in the cuvette should be high enough to be in the path of the light source.[18]
Mild detergent and ethanol rinsing with tap water is used to wipe off the outer layer of the cuvette. Acid and alkaline are not used due to their corrosive effects to glass, and acetone is avoided when dealing with plastic cuvettes. Wiping the container dry with a soft, low-lint cloth avoids scratching the surface of cuvette. In case the cuvette needs incubation for various experiments, care must be taken to avoid raising the temperature above permissible levels for the material.
Additional images
UV-VIS spectrophotometer used with cuvette.
Pointing the clear side of cuvette toward the light source.
See also
External links
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References
- ↑ Perkin Elmer Inc (2006). "An Introduction to Fluorescence Spectroscopy". Spectroscopy – via Retrieved 15 August 2013.
- ↑ Rodriguez Gonzalez, Jaime (2013-01-01). e-Study Guide for: Organic Structure Analysis. Cram101 Textbook Reviews. Cram101 Textbook. ISBN 9780195336047.
- ↑ "Cleaning and proper use of the cuvettes for the Spec 20". chemed.chem.purdue.edu. 2016-03-17.
- ↑ "Cuvette Specifications | Transmission Spectra | Spectrophotometer Cells". quartz-cuvette. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ↑ "Plastic Cuvettes / Disposable Cuvettes | Biocompare.com". www.biocompare.com. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ↑ An Introduction to Fluorescence Spectroscopy Perkin Elmer Inc. 2006. Retrieved 15 August 2013
- ↑ "Cuvette". chemed.chem.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2016-03-17.
- ↑ Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectroscopy Applied Photophysics Ltd., 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2013
- ↑ Weisstein, Eric, W. "Birefringence" scienceworld.wolfram.com, Wolfram Research, 1996-2007. Retrieved 15 August 2013
- ↑ "Plastic Cuvettes / Disposable Cuvettes | Biocompare.com". www.biocompare.com. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ↑ "Guide to Disposable Cuvettes". FireflySci Cuvette Shop. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- 1 2 "How to Select Cuvettes for UV VIS Measurements & Cuvette Material Guide". FireflySci Cuvette Shop. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- 1 2 "What Makes Extrasil ES Quartz a Superior Material for Flow Cells and Precision Cuvettes.". PRWeb. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- ↑ Architects, Active Media. "FireflySci". www.precisioncells.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- ↑ Annino JS, Giese RW. (1976). "Clinical chemistry : principles and procedures. 4thed. Boston". Clinical chemistry – via Little Brown and company.
- ↑ Frings CS, Gauldie J. Spectral techniques. In : Kaplan LA, Pesce AJ, ed. (1989). Clinical Chemistry. Theory, analysis, and correlation. 2nd ed. St. Louis : CV Mosby company.
- ↑ Choudhary, Ankur (2011-09-27). "Handling, Cleaning & Storage of Cuvettes of Spectrophotometer". www.pharmaguideline.com. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
- ↑ "What Is A Cuvette? - How To Use A Cuvette". www.cmscientific.com. Retrieved 2017-06-19.