Preparing KBr pellets for FTIR involves several crucial steps to ensure accurate and clear spectra.
How do you prepare KBr pellets for FTIR? 5 Essential Steps
1. Sample and KBr Mixture Preparation
The sample, typically a powdered substance, is mixed with potassium bromide (KBr) in a specific ratio.
The standard ratio is 100 parts KBr to 1 part sample by weight.
This ensures that the pellet is mostly composed of KBr, which is transparent to infrared radiation and does not interfere with the FTIR analysis of the sample.
2. Blending
The mixture is thoroughly blended using either a mortar and pestle or a grinding mill.
This step is crucial to ensure an even distribution of the sample within the KBr, which is essential for obtaining clear and accurate spectra.
3. Pellet Formation
The blended mixture is then placed in an evacuable pellet die, which is a specialized tool designed to compress the mixture into a pellet shape.
The die is typically 13 mm in diameter, although sizes can vary depending on the specific FTIR equipment being used.
4. Compression
The mixture is compressed using a hydraulic press.
The pressure applied is typically around 8 to 10 tons for a 13 mm die, although this can vary.
The high pressure causes the KBr to become plastic and form a transparent sheet, encapsulating the sample.
5. Finalizing the Pellet
After compression, the pellet is removed from the die.
The resulting pellet should be thin, transparent, and contain the sample within an IR-transparent medium (KBr).
This pellet is then ready for analysis using FTIR spectroscopy.
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