New instrumentation reinforces Aurochemicals’ commitment
to quality assurance and quality control excellence
WASHINGTONVILLE, N.Y. (Jan. 16, 2017) – Aurochemicals, a leading manufacturer of natural aroma chemicals for the flavor and fragrance industry, has acquired a state-of-the-art Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5 FT-IR Spectrometer, equipped with a diamond crystal iD7 ATR sampling component, as its newest Quality Control laboratory instrument.The FTIR instrument allows Aurochemicals’ to be a provider of industry-leading, accurate and reliable flavors and fragrances ingredients to its customers.
Fourier Transform-Infrared Radiation (FTIR) is the preferred method of infrared spectroscopy. When IR radiation is passed through a sample, some radiation is absorbed by the sample and some passes through, or is “transmitted.” The resulting detector signal is a spectrum representing a molecular “fingerprint” of the sample.
“Infrared spectroscopy is critically useful from a perspective of chemical composition of organic compounds and different chemical structures, or molecules, produce different spectral fingerprints,” explained Sagar Lachmansing, Aurochemicals’ vice president of food safety and quality assurance and its Safe Quality Food (SQF) practitioner. “The Fourier Transform converts the detector output to an interpretable spectrum with peaks characteristic of the material under analysis.Our new instrument generates spectra with patterns that provide structural insights based on functional groups — such as ketones, aldehydes or alcohols — within organic compounds defined by specific atom and bond types and arrangements.”
“The identification of functional groups is a significant feature of IR spectroscopy and organic chemistry,” Lachmansing said.
“The FTIR uses interferometry to record information about a material placed in the IR beam,” he added. “The Fourier Transform results in spectra that Aurochemicals analysts can use to interpret and identify the material under examination.”
Of four major sampling techniques in FTIR, Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) is the most popular due to its ease of use and capability to analyze liquid, semi-solids and solids without any sample preparation. Samples are placed directly onto a diamond crystal and scanned to generate a spectrum with due analysis (subtraction) of background.
The Nicolet iS5 FT-IR Spectrometer comes with OMNIC software and a database featuring a comparative identification based library of reference spectra.
“This new instrument provides us with the capability of performing definitive and rapid identification tests, often times within minutes, of our products,” said Lachmansing. “It also provides versatility to analyze and perform identity testing on individual containers at high efficiency rates in order to capture 100 percent identity analysis of incoming materials. It’s also a key collaborative tool for troubleshooting and impurity determination of products and raw materials.”
Lachmansing is confident the company’s new technology will reinforce Aurochemicals’ commitment to quality assurance and quality control excellence.
“This key equipment will enhance our food safety and QA/QC programs and provide even greater confidence to our customers as Aurochemicals embraces technology as part of our robust improvement initiatives,” he said.
Naitram Persaud, Aurochemicals’ quality assurance/quality control manager, completes a test using Aurochemicals’ new Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS5 FT-IR Spectrometer.
About Aurochemicals
Aurochemicals, established in 1994, is a manufacturer of natural aroma chemicals for the flavor and fragrance industry worldwide. With a focus on research, development, and quality control it is Safe Quality Food (SQF) certified. The company, which began in Brooklyn, currently occupies a 28,000 sq. ft. facility in Washingtonville, N.Y., with extensive production and storage capabilities. For more information or a current list of available products visit aurochemicals.com.
