Kategori: Industry 4.0

Industry-4-0-tr 29 Temmuz 2025

Piyasadaki en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü hangisi? Visum Palm™ ile diğer taşınabilir analizörlerin karşılaştırması

En iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü

Piyasadaki en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü hangisidir?

Taşınabilir NIR analizörleri pazarı sürekli büyüyor ve bu büyümeyle birlikte net ve objektif teknik karşılaştırmalara duyulan ihtiyaç da artıyor. Bu yazıda, günümüzde en çok öne çıkan cihazları inceliyor ve resmi teknik özelliklerini Visum Palm™ ile karşılaştırarak, gerçek ihtiyaçlarınıza göre piyasadaki en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü belirlemenize yardımcı olmayı amaçlıyoruz.

Bu analiz; spektral aralık, spektral çözünürlük, optik yapılandırma ve kullanıcı arayüzü gibi temel teknik parametreleri dikkate alırken, aynı zamanda pratik kullanım şekli, kalibrasyon süreçleri, çok yönlülük ve belirli sektörlerdeki uzmanlaşma gibi uygulamaya yönelik unsurları da değerlendiriyor. Ayrıca GMP ile düzenlenen endüstriler ve özel uygulama alanları da analiz kapsamında yer alıyor.

Spektral Aralık

En iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü seçerken dikkate alınması gereken temel faktörlerden biri spektral aralıktır. Çoğu taşınabilir NIR analizörü —örneğin Visum Palm™— 900 ile 1700 nm arasında çalışır. Bu aralık, yüksek kimyasal bilgi yoğunluğu sayesinde organik bileşenlerin analizi için idealdir.

Her ne kadar bazı modeller daha geniş spektral aralıklar (1300–2500 nm) sunsa da —genellikle FT-NIR sensörleri ile— pratikte her iki sistem de çoğunlukla benzer parametreleri kapsar. Ancak bu durum, yalnızca çok özel uygulamalarda ve sensör kalitesine bağlı olarak farklılık gösterebilir.

Visum Palm™, bu optimal aralığı, yüksek çözünürlüklü endüstriyel bir sensörle birleştirdiği için en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü olarak öne çıkar. Bu da cihazın sağlamlık, kararlılık ve uzun vadeli güvenilirlik sunmasını sağlar.

Sensörlerin minyatürleştirilmesinde önemli ilerlemeler kaydedilmiş olsa da, işlem kapasitesi, aşırı ısınma gibi bazı teknik zorluklar devam etmektedir. Bunların başında ise —bir sonraki bölümde göreceğimiz üzere— spektral çözünürlük gelir.

Spektral Çözünürlük: En iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü belirlemek için bilinmesi gereken bir faktör

Si consideramos que el rango espectral es la ventana por la que observamos una muestra, la resolución espectral representa la nitidez con la que capturamos esa imagen espectral. A diferencia de lo que ocurre con las cámaras de móviles, en espectroscopía NIR una menor resolución numérica (es decir, menos nanómetros) significa mayor capacidad para distinguir diferencias sutiles en la composición química, lo que se traduce en más precisión, repetibilidad y calidad analítica.

Este es uno de los factores que hacen del Visum Palm™ el mejor NIR portátil: su resolución espectral de tan solo 5 nm le permite responder a los desafíos más exigentes tanto en la industria agroalimentaria como en entornos regulados como la industria farmacéutica bajo normativas GMP.

Tener en cuenta la resolución espectral es clave si se busca precisión. Si el objetivo es un simple screening en campo, un analizador NIR portátil de bajo coste puede cumplir, aunque con limitaciones. Estos equipos, con resoluciones superiores a 15 nm, pueden ser útiles en ciertos escenarios, pero su alta sensibilidad al agua, mayor ruido instrumental y menor nitidez espectral los hace inadecuados para líquidos o muestras húmedas, así como para análisis en laboratorios o líneas de producción donde se exige fiabilidad.

En resumen, si queremos elegir el mejor NIR portátil no basta con que sea compacto o accesible, debemos revisar siempre la resolución espectral en su ficha técnica. Cuanto menor sea ese valor (en nanómetros), mayor será la calidad y nitidez de los resultados espectrales.

Taşınabilirlik

Spektral aralığı bir örneği gözlemlediğimiz pencere olarak düşünürsek, spektral çözünürlük, bu spektral görüntünün ne kadar net yakalandığını ifade eder. Akıllı telefon kameralarının aksine, NIR spektroskopisinde daha düşük sayısal çözünürlük (yani daha az nanometre), kimyasal bileşimdeki ince farkları ayırt etme kapasitesinin daha yüksek olduğu anlamına gelir. Bu da daha yüksek doğruluk, tekrarlanabilirlik ve analitik kalite sağlar.

Bu, Visum Palm™’ı en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü yapan temel faktörlerden biridir: yalnızca 5 nm spektral çözünürlüğü sayesinde, hem tarım-gıda endüstrisinde hem de GMP normlarına tabi ilaç sektöründe karşılaşılan zorlu analiz ihtiyaçlarına etkin biçimde yanıt verir.

Eğer amaç yüksek hassasiyetse, spektral çözünürlük dikkate alınması gereken kritik bir parametredir. Basit saha taramaları için düşük maliyetli bir taşınabilir NIR analizörü yeterli olabilir; ancak bu tür cihazlar genellikle 15 nm’nin üzerindeki çözünürlüklerle çalışır ve bu da belirli sınırlamaları beraberinde getirir. Özellikle bu cihazlar, sıvılar, nemli örnekler veya yüksek güvenilirlik gerektiren laboratuvar ve üretim ortamları için uygun değildir; çünkü suya karşı yüksek hassasiyet, daha fazla cihaz gürültüsü ve düşük spektral netlik gibi dezavantajlara sahiptirler.

Özetle, en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü seçerken sadece kompaktlık veya fiyat kriterlerine göre karar vermemeliyiz. Cihazın teknik özelliklerinde yer alan spektral çözünürlük değerine mutlaka bakılmalıdır. Bu değerin nanometre cinsinden ne kadar düşükse, elde edilen spektral verilerin kalitesi ve netliği o kadar yüksek olur.

NIR Kalibrasyonları: Visum Palm™'ın basitleştirdiği bir görev

NIR spektroskopisinde kalibrasyon süreçlerinin karmaşıklığıyla kullanıcılar daha ne kadar uğraşmak zorunda kalacak? Kalibrasyon oluşturmak veya güncellemek gerektiğinde üreticiye bağımlı olmak ne kadar sürdürülebilir? Piyasadaki analizörlerin büyük çoğunluğunda —Visum Palm™ hariç hepsinde— nicel analiz, tanımlama veya sınıflandırma modellerinin oluşturulması, gelişmiş kemometrik bilgi gerektiren teknik yazılımlara bağlıdır: algoritma seçimi, ön işleme yöntemleri, gizli değişken sayısı gibi konular, standart bir analistin günlük görev tanımını fazlasıyla aşar.

Visum Palm™, en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü olarak fark yaratan önemli avantajlardan birini sunar: SMART ve GMP versiyonlarında bulunan Visum Master™ yazılımı, dahili otomatik model oluşturucu (Model Builder) ile birlikte gelir. Peki bu ne anlama gelir? Kullanıcının tek yapması gereken, kalibrasyon örneklerine ait spektrumları ve referans değerlerini yazılıma girmektir. Gerisini yazılım otomatik olarak yapar: yüzlerce model kombinasyonu oluşturur, RMSE ve R² değerlerine göre en iyisini seçer ve tüm detayları içeren teknik bir rapor üretir — kullanılan algoritma, ön işlemler, model tipi, örnek listesi, spektrumlar, tespit edilen aykırı değerler ve daha fazlası.

Bu otomasyon yalnızca günlerce sürecek teknik çalışmadan tasarruf sağlamakla kalmaz, aynı zamanda özellikle ilaç sektörü gibi GMP düzenlemelerine tabi alanlarda NIR yöntemlerinin validasyon gerekliliklerini de karşılar. Visum Master™ tarafından üretilen teknik rapor, ICH Q2(R1) yönergesine uygunluk açısından büyük kolaylık sağlar.
Yönergenin tam adı: Validation of Analytical Procedures.

Herhangi bir kullanıcının —kemometri deneyimi olmasa bile— kendi kalibrasyonlarını oluşturabilmesi ve güncelleyebilmesi, Visum Palm™’ı en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü yapan bir diğer neden olup, kullanıcıya benzersiz bir bağımsızlık ve esneklik kazandırır.

Karşılaştırma Tablosu: Visum Palm™ ile Diğer Taşınabilir NIR Analizörlerinin Karşılaştırması

en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü

Optik Konfigürasyon ve Etkili Analiz Alanı: En iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü belirleyen kritik unsurlar

En iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü belirlemek için dikkate alınması gereken en kritik —ve genellikle göz ardı edilen— değişkenlerden biri, cihaz ile numune arasındaki optik arayüzdür. Bu konuda Visum Palm™, onu rakiplerinin önüne geçiren benzersiz optik tasarımıyla açık şekilde öne çıkar.

Visum Palm™, 50 mm çapında geniş kapsamlı bir aydınlatma sistemi ve 10 mm’lik bir ölçüm alanı ile donatılmıştır. Bu, her numunenin daha temsili bir bölgesinin analiz edilmesini sağlar. Bu yapı, iç kısmında yansıtıcı çan şeklinde bir mimari ile tamamlanır; bu da genellikle yalnızca yüksek maliyetli laboratuvar tipi NIR cihazlarında bulunan entegrasyon küresi davranışını taklit etmeye yöneliktir.

Peki bu pratikte ne anlama geliyor? Visum Palm™, daha fazla yararlı kimyasal bilgi toplayabilir, gerçek numunelerdeki heterojenliklerin (örneğin doku, yoğunluk veya yüzey değişkenliği) etkisini azaltabilir ve numuneden yansıyan ışığı daha verimli kullanabilir. Tüm bunlar, spektral kaliteyi önemli ölçüde artırır ve dolayısıyla analizlerin güvenilirliğini güçlendirir.

Parametrelerin kantitatif analizinde, bu optik yapı, yüksek fiyatlı masaüstü NIR sistemleriyle neredeyse eşdeğer bir performansa ulaşmayı mümkün kılar — bu da taşınabilir bir cihaz için oldukça istisnai bir durumdur.

Bu nedenle, Visum Palm™, yalnızca genel özellikleriyle değil, optik konfigürasyonu sayesinde de günümüzde piyasada bulunan en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü olarak açıkça öne çıkmaktadır — özellikle de kantitatif analiz için.

Conclusión ¿cuál es el mejor NIR portátil?

Nesnel bir bakış açısıyla ve doğrulanabilir teknik özelliklere dayanarak değerlendirildiğinde, Visum Palm™ rakiplerinin açıkça önüne geçmektedir. Gelişmiş sensör teknolojisi, yüksek spektral çözünürlük, kararlılık, optik konfigürasyon avantajları ve GMP ve farmasötik düzenlemelere uyumluluğu, ayrıca kalibrasyon ve model oluşturma süreçlerinin otomatikleştirilmiş olması sayesinde, günümüzde piyasadaki en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü olarak öne çıkar.

Ancak ideal cihaz seçimi yalnızca sensörün teknik kalitesine dayanarak yapılmamalıdır — bu yazının amacı da tam olarak budur: teknik-danışmanlık satış süreçlerinde kasıtlı ya da istemeden göz ardı edilen birçok önemli konuyu aydınlatmak ve kullanıcının “en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü hangisidir?” sorusuna kendi ihtiyaçlarına göre bilinçli bir yanıt verebilmesini sağlamaktır.

Bazı durumlarda, dışarıdan bir akıllı telefon ya da tablet ile çalışan daha basit bir analizör seçmek doğru bir karar olabilir — özellikle aşırı taşınabilirliğin öncelik olduğu ve analizlerin genellikle saha ortamlarında veya daha düşük kalite standartlarının geçerli olduğu koşullarda.

Bu nedenle, en iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörünü seçerken kullanım ortamı, analiz edilecek ürün tipi, kritik parametreler ve gerekli kalite kontrol düzeyi gibi faktörleri dikkate almak hayati önem taşır. Ancak bu şekilde, basit görevler için uygun maliyetli bir cihazdan, GMP ile düzenlenen zorlu üretim ortamları için sağlam, endüstriyel, valide edilebilir ve bağımsız çalışan bir sisteme kadar ihtiyacımıza en uygun çözümü seçebiliriz — örneğin Visum Palm™ gibi.

IRIS Technology Solutions
Industry-4-0-tr, Innovation-tr 22 Nisan 2025

IRIS Technology: Leading the Way in Material Detection with Hyperspectral Imaging for RECLAIM project

IRIS Technology: Leading the Way in Material Detection with Hyperspectral Imaging

IRIS Technology Solutions, a pioneer in photonics and artificial intelligence, is playing a key role in the European RECLAIM project as leader of Work Package 3 (WP3). The company is spearheading the development of an advanced material classification system prototype based on optical and spectroscopic techniques, with the aim of revolutionizing how waste materials are identified and categorized for recycling purposes.

Cutting-Edge Detection Using Hyperspectral Imaging

At the heart of IRIS’s contribution is a prototype system built around hyperspectral imaging (HSI). This technology captures detailed spectral data for each pixel in an image, producing a three-dimensional dataset—two spatial dimensions plus a spectral dimension. Each pixel carries a unique spectral signature that reflects the chemical composition of the material it represents.

To harness this powerful technology for waste classification, IRIS has designed and assembled a linear HSI system that has been posteriorly integrated in the portable robotic Material Recovery Facilities (prMRF) developed under the RECLAIM project allowing real-time monitoring and analysis of waste materials as they move along the belt of the pilot plant. 

To ensure the maximization and quality of the spectral features of the analyzed material, various optical configurations were tested to identify the best setup for reliable spectra acquisition and consequent classification.

Advanced AI Algorithms

To interpret the massive amount of spectral data generated by the HSI system, IRIS has developed AI algorithms that analyze the chemical characteristics of materials. These models have been developed both by data collected at IRIS facilities and by real waste spectral data, to access the most representative data and ensure effective material prediction.  The development process involved creating AI models that combined the spectral and spatial information provided by the HSI system to obtain trustworthy classification outputs. To support the classification AI models development, various data treatments and advanced AI algorithms have been tested and evaluated. IRIS has tested multiple system configurations, adjusting key variables such as camera frame rates, conveyor speeds, and the distance between the camera and the conveyor, to optimize detection performance under different operational scenarios.

A Breakthrough in Material Classification

One of the most significant achievements so far is the creation of an extensive classification model that goes beyond traditional broad categories. The model distinguishes between multiple waste types with high accuracy, identifying the following classes:

  • METAL
  • PAPER
  • PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
  • PE (Polyethylene with concrete differentiation between the High and Low Density)
  • PP (Polypropylene)
  • PS (Polystyrene)

This is a major milestone in plastic waste sorting, marking the first time that such detailed sub-classification of plastic polymers has been integrated into an operational industrial spectroscopic sorting system. By enabling the separation of similar-looking but chemically distinct plastics, this advancement significantly improves the quality and value of recycled materials.

IRIS Technology Solutions
Digitalization-tr, Industry-4-0-tr, Pharma-4-0-tr 3 Nisan 2024

Control of the coating process of granular forms by NIR spectroscopy

Control of the coating process of granular forms by NIR spectroscopy

In the pharmaceutical industry, there are many granular formulations that are coated to achieve a sustained or controlled release of the drug or active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) over time, a clear and well-known example being Omeprazole. In this paper we will discuss these extended release formulations and how it is possible to optimize the release time and potency analyses during the coating process using NIR spectroscopy.

Pelletisation process and traditional analysis

During the pelletisation process of modified release dosage forms, the correct application of the coating (e.g. an enteric release coating intended to prevent gastric digestion or degradation) will determine the subsequent efficacy of the drug and the mg/API release time of the drug and therefore controls are carried out throughout this process to ensure the quality and thus the expected pharmacological action.

 

Currently, this control is performed during the coating process with samples obtained from the coating equipment at different times and analysed in the laboratory using the analytical technique of HPLC or liquid chromatography and dissolution testing to demonstrate that the release of the active ingredient(s) is satisfactory. Both methods require sample preparation prior to analysis, require specialised personnel and consumables (materials), in addition to the duration (hours) of a dissolution test, whose main objective is to determine the bioavailability of the drug, meaning the relative amount of the drug that has entered the general circulation after administration, and the rate at which this access has occurred.

Therefore, the major problem with traditional analytics is that it is time-consuming to obtain the results and therefore does not allow for timely rectification of the coating process in case of failures or, in the frequent case of stopping the process for sampling, there is a risk that the quality of the semi-product will be altered.

 

An alternative and very effective tool that allows real-time monitoring of the coating process is NIR technology, since the spectral signature of each pellet can be related to its coating conditions, dosage and release times without the need to resort to traditional methods.

Development of an NIRS method for predicting release time and potency

In order to develop a predictive model for the real-time determination of release times and potency (mg API/g pellet) that is released at 1, 4 and 7 hours, we worked in coordination with a major Spanish pharmaceutical laboratory and the portable NIR spectroscopic analyser Visum Palm™ manufactured and marketed by IRIS Technology Solutions S.L. 

The data provided by the laboratory consists of the NIR spectra of several batches of two drugs based on, on the one hand, an antihistamine which, for confidentiality reasons, we will refer to as “DS”, and on the other hand, a form of vitamin B6 which, for the same reasons, we will refer to as “PH”.  In both cases, the active substance was part of the coating of the pellets constituting the vehicle. 

The spectra of the pellets were acquired at different times of the coating process, from both wet and dry samples and, in parallel, the respective sample was subjected to the usual analyses in these cases to determine the drug release at 1, 4 and 7 hours and the potency mg PI/g. 

The predictive models developed on the basis of the spectral data showed that it is not necessary to dry the samples for the acquisition of the spectra – so the control can be performed directly on the wet sample, saving time and handling – and that there is a clear relationship between the NIR spectra, the power and the release times of 1h, 4h and 7h, as we will see below.

PH compound - Coating process and NIR spectroscopy

Table 1: Quality parameters of the prediction models for the release at 1, 4, 7 hours and the potency in the samples with different stages of the PH coating process. The * symbol indicates that the model was built by using the average NIR spectra of the replicates of each sample.

Figure 1: Regression curves for PH a) All samples; b) Batches 1,3,4 y 7; c) Mean spectra of batches 1,3,4 y 7; d) Batch 7.

DS compound

Table 2 shows the quality parameters of the models for the analysis of wet DS samples. All samples were studied simultaneously: samples from batches 6, 8 and 10 together, and batch 6 separately. Batches 6, 8 and 10 were chosen for the study of a set of batches because they had the largest number of samples. In addition, batch 6 was chosen for individual analysis as it contained the most samples with the optimal release parameters for the case study.

Table 2: Quality parameters of the prediction models for the release at 1, 4, 7 hours and the potency in the samples with different stages of the DS coating process.

Figure 2 shows the regression curves resulting from the study for the active substance DS. The values of the quality parameters for the DS models show, in general, a good correlation. As an observation, it is noted that the error increases when data from different batches are used, probably because the process conditions of each batch are different due to the fact that the data come from the development and fine-tuning phase of the production process. The prediction of the release at 7 hours is worse than that of the other parameters, probably because the end of the release process has been reached in many cases before that time.

 

Figure 2: Regression curves for DS a) all samples; b) Batches 6, 8 y 10; c) Mean spectra of batches 6, 8 y 10; d) Batch 6.

Prediction of dry samples

Table 3: Quality parameters of the prediction models for the dry samples of DS batch 6 and PH batch 7.

The prediction models of the dry samples for individual batches of PH and DS show a good correlation. It should be noted that the prediction error is due to the few validation samples used.

 

Figure 3: Regression curves for Dry simples of a) DS batch 6 y b) PH batch 7.

Conclusions - Coating process and NIR spectroscopy

  • There is a clear correlation between NIR spectra with release times of 1h, 4h and 7h, as well as with potency, for both DS and PH, although it is slightly worse for PH.
  • In the case of the 7h release, the correlation seems a bit weaker, possibly because it is close to the maximum release (at the release plateau) or due to differences in the pH of the samples.
  • The different batch production conditions affect the robustness of this correlation, an inherent variability factor because the samples come from the development phase of the production process (fine-tuning phase) and not from the NIRS method.
  • Individual batch tests show a good correlation for both wet and dry samples. Since the results in both cases are similar, it can be concluded that drying is not necessary to correlate the studied parameters (release time and potency) with the NIR spectra.
  • Finally, from the analysis of the results analysed, it can be concluded that NIR spectroscopy can be used to optimise the control of the coating process of granular forms and that, from a technical point of view, it is a robust and evidence-based method. However, for all the cases evaluated in this document, definitive models have to be made once the production process has been fully developed.
IRIS Technology Solutions
Industry-4-0-tr 12 Şubat 2024

Real-time NIR grain analysis

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is a valuable analytical tool for real-time analysis of the chemical composition of a wide variety of products, including those of agricultural origin. In this article, we will address the application of NIR technology for grain analysis and in particular of two varieties of wheat grains: soft (Triticum aestivum) and hard (Triticum durum), as well as yellow corn (Zea Mays).

Grain analysis with continuous or portable NIR technology

The quality of food products depends directly on the quality of the raw materials used. Therefore, assessing their composition, purity and physicochemical characteristics is of interest to the food industry.
In grain analysis, NIR spectroscopy plays a crucial role in providing detailed information on several parameters simultaneously, with moisture being one of the critical factors in assessing grain quality. However, this technique also makes it possible to analyse other key parameters such as protein, fat, fibre, ash and starch content, thus offering a more rigorous control according to established quality criteria.
NIR spectroscopy differs from other techniques in that it is non-destructive, which means that measurements can be made continuously without compromising the integrity of the batch or sample under analysis. In addition, results are obtained in a matter of seconds, streamlining grain analysis, quality control processes and allowing instant decision making compared to conventional wet chemistry analysis.

Below we will look at two ways of performing NIR grain analysis, either fully automated and continuous on the production line or by means of a portable analyser, useful for analysis in the field, in the raw material reception warehouse or in discontinuous processes.

Continuous and real-time grain analysis: wheat and corn grains

A Visum NIR In-Line™ (900-1700 nm) continuous analyser was used to develop the grain calibration model and 30 calibration samples and 7 validation samples were used from each class. In addition, duplicate reference analyses were obtained from each sample to mitigate the inherent error in the primary method of analysis. For moisture analysis, a thermogravimetric moisture meter HE53 (Metler Toledo) was used, protein was determined by the Kjeldahl method and fat content was determined by the Soxhlet method.

The table below shows the main results and figures of merit of the soft grain (TB) and durum grain (TD) wheat for the parameters moisture and protein expressed as % dry matter. In addition, the results for fat and moisture of yellow corn are also shown. It is important to clarify that the same calibration is useful and groups both wheat classes into a single family or method of analysis. No significant spectral differences were observed for their individual treatment.

NIR analysis of grains

* Table 1: Analysis of common wheat, durum wheat and yellow corn. Main figures of merit resulting from the Visum NIR In-Line™ continuous analyser.

Grain analysis with NIR spectroscopy is also important in animal feed manufacturing to optimise diets and yield. In the agri-food sector, the NIR technique offers numerous advantages over wet chemistry methods, mainly due to the immediacy of the result and the possibility of being able to make technological decisions on the spot, even more so if we consider the introduction of these systems such as the Visum NIR In-Line™ analyser in production lines that allow continuous monitoring of the entire product flow to ensure the ideal conditions of the process and the product, mitigating any deviation with phytosanitary consequences that may affect the safety of an entire batch, as far as moisture is concerned.

A portable NIR alternative for grain analysis

On many occasions, mainly due to the conditions and environment where grain analysis is to be performed, it can be of great use to work with a portable NIR grain analyser such as the Visum Palm™. This device, which works in the same spectral range (900 – 1700 nm) as the continuous analyser we saw earlier, is capable of determining in less than 3 seconds different parameters of interest in all types of grains, cereals and oilseeds.

Some of its main advantages, especially for field grain analysis, are:

  • It is a self-contained analyser (embedded computer and touch screen). It does not need to be connected to any external device, tablet or smartphone to operate.
  • It has a sample measurement area of 10 mm in diameter and illumination of 50 mm in diameter, which allows mitigating the heterogeneities present and obtaining more chemical information from each sample.
  • Unlike most portable NIR grain analysers on the market today, it has a spectral resolution of 3 nm or 256 pixels, i.e. two to three times higher, allowing spectra, and therefore results, of high reliability and quality to be obtained.
  • It includes factory libraries for different grain types.
  • And it is supported by external Visum Master™ PC software, so that the end user can develop their own NIR calibrations and extend them in an automated, AI-assisted way. In this way, the user is not dependent on third-party libraries and has full autonomy to strengthen and extend his calibrations for new parameters or products according to his current or future needs.

We hope you found this article on grain analysis with NIR technology useful. For further information, we invite you to contact us by email at info@iris-eng.com.

IRIS Technology Solutions
Industry-4-0-tr, Innovation-tr 25 Ocak 2024

Plastic identification, verification and classification using Visum Palm™

Plastic identification, verification and classification using Visum Palm™

In this article we will address the problem of classification and plastic identification using the Visum Palm™ handheld NIR analyser as an agile, real-time and non-destructive technique useful in different processes, whether in the recycling of post-industrial plastic, in the analysis and classification of post-consumer plastic, in the identification of polymeric raw materials for their industrialisation, or even in areas of research and development of new plastic.

In all these cases, near infrared spectroscopy is presented as a valuable tool used for the characterisation of plastic compared to traditional methods of analysis.

Identification and sorting is important in plastic recycling and in manufacturing when using recycled plastic, as in both cases it must be ensured that the plastic materials are as pure and clean as possible because low levels of impurities can significantly affect the quality and performance of a recycled batch.

Although there are several portable NIR analyzers on the market, it is important to consider the spectral range that the equipment works with, the size of the measurement area (spectrum acquisition) and the spectral resolution (the quality of the spectrum obtained). The new Visum Palm™ analyser has a measuring area of 10 mm diameter, operates in the spectral range 900-1700 nm with a resolution of only 3 nm (↓ nm = ↑ spectral resolution). It is a self-contained device with an embedded computer and touchscreen and therefore does not need to be connected to a computer or smartphone to work with it.

Análise de forragens e espectroscopia nir

The new Visum Palm™, which includes a polymers library, allows readings and determinations to be made at the line without the need for sample preparation in less than 3 seconds. It is also possible to use it as a laboratory device as it has a support base that allows the attachment of different sample holders for the analysis of pellets, flakes or plastic up to 2 mm.

The factory library included in the analyser has the following classes: PMMA, PE, PC, PETG, EVA, PVC, PET, PU, PS, ABS, PA, PP, VIN, PLA, PBT, PMP, POMC, PPS, PVA, PPSU, EMA, PHBV, PAEK, PBAT, PBS, TPES, TPS, MABS, HIPS, MBS, SBC, PCL, PEEK, PHB, SAN, PI, PB.

Extend and develop your own library with Visum Master™

Visum Master™ is a computer software that allows the end user to create, extend and strengthen their own identification, classification and quantification methods or libraries without the need for a specialist or technical knowledge of spectroscopy, making the analyser a truly open system to meet present and future analysis needs (new polymer classes, new suppliers, etc.).

As shown below, it is possible to incorporate spectra of new samples within an existing class or to incorporate new classes and thus keep the library as robust and up-to-date as possible in order to be able to classify or identify plastic.

plastics

Plastic identification

It is a working method that allows the plastic identification analysed within the library available in the analyser. The result obtained, as can be seen below, is the type of polymer with the highest similarity and the following (from highest to lowest similarity).

Image 1: Visum Palm™ screen performing plastic identification

Plastic identification screen visum palm polymers identification

Polymer Verification

As with plastic identification, it is based on a mathematical procedure of similarity but it allows choosing a type of material to be analysed within the identification library to confirm its identity. The result of the verification analysis is PASS / FAIL. In case of a negative result (FAIL), it provides the class corresponding to the type of plastic analysed. Both cases are shown below.

polymers_identification

Plastic classification

In contrast to plastic identification analysis, classification uses machine learning algorithms to accurately analyse and classify samples that are spectrally very similar to each other, where a double check is necessary to determine the polymer class (PET/PETG, for example). Through the Visum Master™ software, the user can create his own classification libraries for the most problematic cases.

As a result of the analysis, the user obtains the corresponding class.

In conclusion, NIR spectroscopy is a very valuable and effective tool for plastic identification or classification and, although not covered in this article, it is also useful for manufacturers of plastic and new formulations to quantify blends. The open nature of the analyser through the Visum Master™ software makes the Visum Palm™ analyser an open, self-contained system that can continuously introduce new samples, spectra and generate different libraries without the need for a specialist.

IRIS Technology Solutions
Ai-tr, Digitalization-tr, Industry-4-0-tr, Innovation-tr, Pharma-4-0-tr 5 Eylül 2023

New Visum Palm™ AI-assisted handheld NIR analyser

handheld nir analyser

New Visum Palm™ AI-assisted handheld NIR analyser

IRIS Technology Solutions introduces the latest version of its Visum Palm™ portable NIR analyser to complement its Visum® range of real-time process analysers for industry.

The new Visum Palm™ is a fully portable NIR spectrophotometer that allows real-time analysis of different substances, products or mixtures, without the need for traditional laboratory and sampling techniques, allowing industry to obtain results on the spot to make decisions or correct production process parameters.

The new generation Visum Palm™ brings with it an innovative design and a radical change in the way users experience NIR technology, now assisted by AI with the Visum Master™ software, so that each manufacturer can automatically create their own predictive models or calibrations according to their control and analysis needs.

 

Design, autonomy and robustness

The Visum Palm™ handheld nir analyser offers an innovative and ergonomic design, as well as the possibility to perform analysis at any time and place without having to connect it to any external electronic device. This is possible because it incorporates an embedded touch screen and computer, which enable all the routine functionalities of the device.

The Visum Palm™ operates in the 900 to 1700 nm range, as this is the band that best combines availability of chemical information with price and technological maturity. It operates mainly in diffuse reflectance mode, for which it has specially designed and patented optics to extract as much information as possible from the sample. Specifically, it has a large illumination area (50 mm diameter) and a collection area of 10 mm. These features differentiate it from similar analysers in terms of its suitability for analysing heterogeneous samples, which is most often the case in real working conditions. In cases where heterogeneity is more evident, the device is configurable to calculate and report the average of a given number of repetitions.

The Visum Palm™ handheld NIR analyser is IP65 compliant, making it resistant to dust, moisture and water. It is also rugged enough to be carried and tested almost anywhere indoors or outdoors and even comes with a stand for desktop or tabletop use.

 

A new AI-assisted user experience

Unlike most common modelling and calibration software on the market, which requires the user to have some technical knowledge of chemometrics or entrust the task to a third party, Visum Master™ PC-based software makes NIR technology even more accessible by automating pre-processing, multivariate analysis algorithm selection and validation. This allows any user to generate models by simply inputting spectra and references (quantitative or qualitative) for routine real-time analysis to replace traditional analysis.

En iyi taşınabilir NIR analizörü

The new software also allows to extend and edit pre-existing models, synchronise with the portable analyser to import spectra, export models, download measurement results, automatically generate analytical method validation reports and audit reports for GMP environments, and to check the metrological performance of the device in a guided manner when needed.

 

For industry and GMP environments

While NIR technology has a myriad of applications in numerous industries such as plastics, food, chemical, agribusiness, wood, biofuels, to mention the most relevant but not the only ones; it is for the pharmaceutical industry and GMP environments where the new Visum Palm™ device introduces significant novelties at the level of usability and functionality. It is 21 CFR Part 11 compliant, allowing the generation and display of an automatic Audit Trail report, the record of all device activity, where comments and observations can be incorporated. It also allows the user to automatically generate the analytical method validations developed and perform metrological checks of the device when required and download the results at a later date.

“NIR technology today must be easy to use and understand, and at the same time it must give the user the freedom and autonomy to exploit it to the full and facilitate their day-to-day work. Technology must be an enabler. We will continue to take further steps in terms of automation and new functionalities because we are convinced that this is the right way forward and what the industry and the people in it need”, says Oonagh Mc Nerney, Director of IRIS Technology Solutions, S.L.

 

The new Visum Palm™ handheld NIR analyser is now available here, where you can also find technical information about the device, videos and contact IRIS Technology Solutions, S.L. for a demonstration or specific enquiry.

 

IRIS Technology Solutions