Accessories For the Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer

Significance of the topic

Ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry is a cornerstone technique in analytical chemistry for quantifying absorption and transmission of light by chemical species. The flexibility and modularity of the Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer can be greatly enhanced by a wide range of accessories, enabling precise control over sample temperature, automation of high-throughput measurements, rapid kinetic experiments, remote and in-situ analyses, and adaptation to diverse sample types (liquids, solids, powders, fibers).

Objectives and overview

This document reviews the accessory portfolio available for the Cary 60 UV-Vis system and describes how each component extends the instrument’s functionality. The goal is to guide users in selecting and combining accessories to meet specific analytical requirements, from routine liquid measurements to advanced kinetic and solid-state studies.

Methodology and instrumentation

Key accessory categories include:

• Thermostatted cell holders: A multicell changer (18-position) and single-cell holders with Peltier or circulating water control provide static or dynamic temperature regulation (ambient to 60 °C) and support kinetics with integrated stirring and temperature probes.
• Rapid mix and stopped-flow: The RX2000 accessory achieves a 6 ms dead time for rates up to 200 s⁻¹, while the SFA-20 supports sub-8 ms mixing and microvolume or multi-reagent experiments.
• Fiber-optic systems: Fiber couplers and dip-probe couplers connect a range of stainless steel, quartz, or polymer probes (reflection, transmission, diffuse reflectance) for remote measurements, leveraging room-light immunity for open-compartment operation.
• Solid sample accessories: Upright solid holders, fixed-angle specular reflectance modules (30°, 45°, 60°), variable-angle transmission holders, and polarizer/depolarizer mounts enable characterization of films, powders, and bulk materials.
• Cuvette and flow-cell assemblies: Standard 10 × 10 mm holders; long-pathlength (20–100 mm) cells; test tube and cylindrical cell holders; variable-pathlength and microvolume (TrayCell) modules for sample volumes down to 5 µL.
• Extended compartment and dissolution integration: An enlarged sample chamber for bulky samples and a complete online dissolution testing setup combining an Agilent 708-DS dissolution unit with fiber-optic multiplexer or multicell changer plus flow cells.

Main results and discussion

By integrating these accessories, the Cary 60 UV-Vis can:

• Automate large sample sets with temperature control for reproducible analysis.
• Perform rapid kinetic studies with millisecond resolution for enzyme assays, reaction monitoring, and fast transient events.
• Execute remote or in-situ measurements in challenging environments (open compartments, large objects, process streams).
• Characterize reflectance, transmission, and scattering in solids and powders without extensive sample preparation.
• Analyze microvolume liquid samples with high precision, conserving precious or dilute analytes.
• Support pharmaceutical dissolution testing with real-time UV monitoring.

Benefits and practical applications

The modular accessory suite enhances UV-Vis spectroscopy workflows across research, quality control, environmental monitoring, materials science, and pharmaceutical development. Users gain:

• High throughput and unattended operation.
• Robust temperature and mixing control for kinetic reproducibility.
• Versatility to measure liquids, solids, fibers, and films.
• Minimized sample volumes and reduced waste.
• Capability for field or process-line measurements.

Future trends and potential applications

Emerging developments include:

• Further miniaturization and integration of microfluidic mixers with UV-Vis detection.
• Automated, AI-driven protocols for adaptive experimental design and real-time data analysis.
• Expanded fiber-optic probe chemistries for harsh or reactive media.
• Combined multimodal spectroscopy platforms linking UV-Vis with Raman or fluorescence.
• Enhanced online process analytics in biotechnology, petrochemicals, and environmental remediation.

Conclusion

The comprehensive range of accessories for the Cary 60 UV-Vis spectrophotometer empowers users to tailor the system for virtually any sample type or experimental requirement. By selecting appropriate modules for temperature control, automation, rapid kinetics, remote probing, and microvolume analysis, laboratories can maximize throughput, accuracy, and versatility in routine and specialized applications.

References

• Agilent Technologies. Accessories for the Cary 60 UV-Vis Spectrophotometer. DE.44488.7926967593. Published November 5, 2021.