Identifying Raw Materials Through Plastic Packaging Using FT-NIR

Applying FT-NIR spectroscopy to identify raw materials through plastic packaging.

ACC3-8001 pen probe used to identify raw material

Sodium benzoate, lactose, potassium benzoate and sucrose packages

Overview

In order to reduce the risk associated with handling toxic materials, powders are sometimes double-bagged in plastic bags. In this study, the potential use of FT-NIR to identify raw materials through unopened plastic lined bags with a diffuse reflectance probe was demonstrated. The study was performed on behalf of a pharmaceutical customer that uses plastic-lined bags internally.

During the study, the composition of the plastic bag was unknown to the experimenters. As a means of demonstrating the potential use of FT-NIR, tests were carried out using four different harmless materials: sucrose, lactose, potassium benzoate and sodium benzoate.

Application Details

Method

• Detector: InGaAs 2.6 µm TEC
• Instrument: MB3600
• Analysis temperature: room temperature
• Sampling technique: ACC3-8001 (pen probe)
• Number of scans: 50
• Resolution: 16 cm^-1
• Chemometric model: principal component analysis (PCA)

Results

ABB ACC3-8001 pen probe

Typical FT-NIR spectra from four different products

PCA score factors plot showing four clusters representing the four different materials

MB3600 spectrometer

Conclusion

The study was able to accurately classify each of the packaged materials using a PCA model. Although the plastic band was seen to contribute to the spectra, the typical bands linked with each component were still observable. The findings of this study also demonstrate that the thickness of the plastic film has no significant effect on the results.

This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by ABB Analytical Measurements.

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