Hamamatsu’s C11118GA is a NIR miniature spectrometer for process measurements. Optimised for CH combinational measurements such as asphaltene, cellulose and carbonates, the C11118GA simultaneously measures from 900 nm to 2550 nm. Integration times of 6 μs measure all wavelengths simultaneously, preventing data blur from rapidly changing samples. Integration times range from 6 μs to 40,000 μs (typical). The C11118GA’s doubled slit area and new diffraction grating maximise signal. The input slit is 140 μm by 250 μm (0.22 NA). A proprietary master transmission grating provides higher performance from 2000 nm to 2550 nm.

Applied Analytics has experienced double digit growth in 2009, with success in key markets such as Brazil, the US, Japan and the Persian Gulf.  www.a-a-inc.com

New PSS spectrometers and accessories for in-field operation have been announced by Polytec. The new PSS 1721 and PSS 2121 spectrometers come in a 19″ half rack and have been designed for mobile vehicle applications.

A new 3/4 inch vis/NIR reflection probe from getspec, with internal standard and integrated redundant light sources, has been designed especially for rough process conditions, aiming to achieve high levels of long-term stability and reliability.

The new Tandem II from Bruker Optics is a fully automatic tablet testing system for on-line pharmaceutical process monitoring solutions, combining FT-NIR spectroscopy for tablet content uniformity and physical tablet tests of weight, thickness, diameter and hardness.

The getProbe 3302 SET from getSpec is a new integrated sphere with an integrated halogen light source in the sphere.

A.N. Davies,a H.M. Heiseb and D.F. IhrigcaProfessor, SERC, University of Glamorgan, UK, Director, ALIS Ltd, and ALIS GmbH—Analytical Laboratory Informatics SolutionsbISAS—Institute for Analytical Sciences at Dortmund University of Technology, Bunsen-Kirchhoff-Str. 11, D-44139 Dortmund, GermanycUniversity of Applied Sciences of South-Westphalia, Frauenstuhlweg 31, D-58644 Iserlohn, Germany

OK... I know... for the majority of the readers of Spectroscopy Europe a phrase which comes from Yorkshire probably makes a pretty poor title for an article. However, if in “Where There’s Muck There’s Brass” you simply translate Muck as Dirt or Waste and understand that Brass is a Yorkshire term for Money, then you might get a little closer to our subject, Spectroscopy in Anaerobic Bioreactor Monitoring and Control.

At the Sustainable Environmental Research Centre (SERC), which has carried out research in AD systems for more than 30 years,1 we have initiated a new knowledge transfer organisation to help, advise and promote Anaerobic Digester technology. Led by Dr Sandra Esteves the AD centre has the explicit aim of helping early adopters overcome some of the common hurdles they may encounter (www.walesadcentre.org.uk).

Applied Analytics has introduced the TDL-506, an industry-proven and cost-effective solution for oxygen monitoring needs. It is named for its core component—the tuneable diode laser. Rugged and power-efficient, the vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser which is housed in the TDL-506 is able to emit high-intensity light at specific wavelengths, which is critical for monitoring the sharp, isolated absorbance peaks that are characteristic of diatomic oxygen. The system is constructed specifically to monitor the R-branch of the oxygen A-band at 760 nm, minimising interference and optimising detection resolution.

Applied Analytics Inc Issue: 21/05 RSN: 111 More information via

Thermo Fisher Scientific has combined the Antaris family of FT-NIR analysers with Siemens SiPATT software platform to provide a solution for advanced process understanding and continuous control and improvement in drug development and manufacture. The integration is designed to allow pharmaceutical companies to extend the capabilities of FT-NIR analysers to achieve better process insight and real- time product release, improve manufacturing performance and enhance quality while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Issue: 21/03 RSN: 103

A new vis/NIR reflection probe with internal standard and integrated redundant light source has been developed by getAMO.com. It has been designed especially for rough process conditions with the aim of achieving a high level of long term stability and reliability. Two redundant light sources with a life time of five years each and an internal white reference enables the user to measure for months or years without maintenance. The probe can be used in the production of food, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

Issue: 21/01 RSN: 118

Umetrics has announced the release of its SIMCA Batch On-Line Version 3.3, a multivariate analysis software package, which performs batch process monitoring and MSPC and provides an easy to interpret batch fingerprint for the running batch. This version, which is compatible with SIMCA-P+, Version 12, allows comparisons between a running batch and a training set batch, plotting of two process variables on the same chart and has improved memory use and catch-up functionality.

Umetrics Inc Issue: 21/01 RSN: 124

Quality control is not only an issue at the end of production, but is also used for monitoring the entire process. Zinsser Analytic is offering a robotic workbench, Calli QC, linking sample preparation to analytical measurement. The samples, which can be introduced continuously, are placed on the instrument on arrival from production and prepared for analytical measurement according to the user's requirements. They are weighed, diluted, heated, vortexed, filtered etc. before being transferred to the analyser. A large range of modules is available for the sample preparation process, such as handling of liquids, powders and viscous media. Barcode control ensures the tracking of the individual samples throughout the entire process.Zinsser Analytic GmbhIssue: 20/06 RSN:

SIMCA-P+ Version 12 has been released by Umetrics. This multivariate analysis software performs cluster analysis and PLS regression with classification trees. It has full OPLS and O2PLS functionalities and improved support for hierarchical PCA and PLS. The analysis of batch data is improved through summarised contribution plots that can be resolved to the level of individual variables. Local centring, trimming and Winsorising can be made per phase. The software is 21 CFR Part 11 compliant for use in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries from R&D to manufacturing.Umetrics IncIssue: 20/04 RSN:

Interview with Martin Gerlach, Bayer Technology Services

Antony Neil Daviesa and Martin GerlachbaExternal Professor, University of Glamorgan, UK. Director, ALIS Ltd, and ALIS GmbH–Analytical Laboratory Informatics SolutionsbVice President, PMT Process Analyzer Technology, Bayer Technology Services GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany

Fibre Photonics has launched a new miniature 3 mm diameter ATR fibre probe for process spectroscopy from 2 µm to 18 µm in micro and miniature reactors, enabling small-scale reactions taking place in less accessible reactors to be measured in real time. The design of sealed ATR-immersion heads in hastelloy, titanium or stainless steel provide high contrast evanescent absorption spectra in a broad temperature range from 0°C to 140°C. The ATR fibre probe can perform measurements by immersion in liquid or by contacting soft surfaces, including tissue, polymer and powder. The ATR fibre probes are compatible with all FT-IR and IR spectrometer systems with SMA-terminated optics.Fibre Photonics LimitedIssue: 20/02 RSN:

Michael A. BernsteinAstraZeneca R&D Charnwood, Bakewell Road, Loughborough, Leics. LE11 5RH, UK. E-mail: michael.bernstein@astrazeneca.com

Process Analytical Technology (PAT) is a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiative to improve drug substance manufacturing. Control over production processes and impurity production are key elements. These lead to more robust and cheaper production processes, facilitate predictable scale-up and technology transfer and more effectively manage the risk.

Pittcon 2007 has launched a new, re-designed website. www.pittcon.org

Philip SheringAstraZeneca Engineering Technology, Alderley House, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK10 4TF, UK

Column Editors: John Andrews and Paul Dallin

VTT, the Technical Research Centre of Finland, is developing new optical measurement methods in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline to enhance quality control for drugs using Process Analytical Technologies (PAT). The €1.5 million project will run for two years and will be tested in several production lines including GSK plants in the UK, Italy, Spain and Canada. www.vtt.fi, www.gsk.com