IndiGo fluo UVA-B: a fluorescence spectrometer with UVA & UVB excitation

IndiGo fluo UVA-B: a fluorescence spectrometer with UVA & UVB excitation - Image 2

IndiGo fluo UVA-B: a fluorescence spectrometer with UVA & UVB excitation - Image 3

IndiGo fluo UVA-B: a fluorescence spectrometer with UVA & UVB excitation

The IndiGo Fluo UVA UVB is a portable fluorescence spectrometer engineered to resolve complex optical signatures across solid, powder, and liquid samples using a dual excitation path in the near- and mid-ultraviolet ranges. Combining an array of 4 × UVA LEDs at 365 nm (100 mW) and 2 × UVB LEDs at 295 nm (50 mW)—customizable upon request to 280 or 308 nm—this instrument delivers orthogonal fluorimetric responses on a single sample footprint.

Designed natively for direct non-destructive surface testing of solids and adaptable to liquids and powders via dedicated holders, this optical head is 100% interchangeable on the standard IndiGo UV-Vis base unit. Controlled via SpectroLab software, it supports automated sequential acquisitions with current regulation adjustable from 1% to 100% in pulsed mode.

Optical Architecture & Dual UV Excitation Key Features

Dual-stage dedicated LED illumination array:
- UVA channel (4 × 365 nm): nominal current of 100 mA delivering an aggregate optical power of 100 mW. Resonant excitation for conjugated organic fluorophores, optical brighteners, and aromatic compounds.
- UVB channel (2 × 295 nm): nominal current of 300 mA delivering an aggregate optical power of 50 mW. Deep excitation for aromatic amino acids, resins, mineral activators, and biomaterials. (Alternative UVB wavelengths customizable to 280 nm or 308 nm on demand).
Sequential operation & regulated pulsed drive:
- UVA and UVB channels fire alternately (iterative activation to prevent spectral cross-talk).
- Automated sequences: program inspection routines in SpectroLab that automatically trigger a UVA acquisition followed immediately by a UVB measurement in a single click.
- Pulsed current control: adjustable from 1% to 100% to balance excitation irradiance and prevent thermal shift or photobleaching.
Precision optical filtering:
- Spectral collection (Standard): built-in Long-Pass (LP) 385 nm edge filter at the spectrometer entrance slit, providing an uninhibited detection range from 380 to 780 nm.
- Excitation clean-up (Option): Short-Pass (SP) 395 nm filters integrated directly in front of the LEDs to strip residual visible emission tails.
High-resolution configuration & 25 µm slit: equipped as standard with a 25 µm entrance slit (< 1.5 nm optical resolution) to separate narrow emission bands and multiplets. Optional 70 µm (< 5 nm) and 150 µm (< 10 nm) slits are available for higher throughput requirements.
CMOS detector options: standard ON Semi MT9M001 for general screening and QA/QC, or scientific-grade Sony IMX334 monochrome for high dynamic range and low-noise performance at low photon flux.
Platform modularity: the UVA UVB optical head installs and uninstalls tool-free on the standard IndiGo UV-Vis base, swapping seamlessly with UVA or UVA UVC modules.

Optical safety by design (60° Emission cone)

Unlike laser devices requiring heavy interlocking enclosures, the LED emitters in the IndiGo Fluo UVA UVB ensure operational safety through beam divergence:

60° angular divergence: non-collimated wide cone emission ensures that optical irradiance (W/cm²) drops off steeply as distance from the aperture increases.
Contact measurement: during solid sample evaluation, the sampling aperture is seated flush against the target, fully shielding and containing UV radiation during analysis.
Handling guidelines: standard laboratory precautions apply. Avoid looking directly into the optical window when LEDs are energized, and wear standard UV-blocking safety glasses whenever conducting open-beam testing.

Sampling Modularity: Solids, Powders & Liquids

Designed for direct surface analysis of solids, the IndiGo Fluo UVA UVB accommodates the full ecosystem of IndiGo sampling attachments:

Direct contact measurement: flush surface placement against manufactured parts, sheets, technical textiles, solid polymers, fruits, or geological specimens.
Spectroscopy cuvette holder: accepts 10 × 10 mm quartz cuvettes (mandatory for transmitting UVB excitation) for liquid assays.
Vials & powder holders: dedicated accessories for powders, compressed tablets, or granular media to eliminate cross-contamination.

Key Applications & Analytical fields

Dual 365 nm / 295 nm excitation delivers two-dimensional spectral discrimination without chemical prep work:

Agri-food & sanitary safety:
- Mycotoxin screening: rapid identification of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A across grains, dried fruits, and oilseeds under cross-correlated UVA/UVB excitation.
- Protein freshness & degradation: tracking tryptophan emission (responsive under UVB) alongside lipid oxidation products in meat, fish, and dairy matrices.
- Vegetable oil authentication: cross-referencing residual polyphenols and chlorophyll signatures to detect adulterated oils.
Dermo-cosmetics & surface evaluation:
- Sunscreens & UV filters: testing protective UVA/UVB screening efficiency and monitoring emulsion photodegradation.
- Non-invasive biological evaluation: assessing autofluorescence from collagen, elastin, and metabolic markers on explants or biological substrates.
Polymers, coatings & material aging:
- Photo-oxidation tracking: early detection of fluorescent carbonyl groups and radical species generated during weathering of thermoplastics and resins under UV exposure.
- Brighteners & stabilizers: direct screening of HALS additives and antioxidants compounded into plastic matrices.
Mineralogy & geology:
- LW / SW comparative analysis: standardized photoluminescence comparisons under long-wave (UVA 365 nm) and short-wave (UVB 295 nm) excitation for differentiating mineral species (calcites, fluorites, activated silicates, and rare-earth activators).

Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Excitation light sources	4 × UVA LEDs at 365 nm (100 mA, 100 mW) 2 × UVB LEDs at 295 nm (300 mA, 50 mW) – 280 or 308 nm options on request
Emission mode & drive	Pulsed mode, current regulation from 1% to 100%. Sequential alternating operation
Beam divergence	60° wide emission cone (fast irradiance drop-off with distance)
Integrated optical filters	Standard: Long-Pass (LP) 385 nm at spectrometer entrance slit Option: Short-Pass (SP) 395 nm on LED excitation outputs
Spectral detection range	380 – 780 nm
Entrance slit & resolution (FWHM)	25 µm standard (< 1.5 nm) \| Optional 70 µm (< 5 nm) and 150 µm (< 10 nm)
Sensor options	ON Semi MT9M001 (standard) or Sony 2D CMOS IMX334 monochrome (high sensitivity)
Sample compatibility	Direct contact measurement on solids \| Powders and liquids via dedicated adapters
Platform compatibility	Optical head is 100% interchangeable with the standard IndiGo UV-Vis core
Power supply & connectivity	Internal Li-ion battery (up to 8 h autonomy), Bluetooth BLE, and USB-C port

SpectroLab Software Ecosystem & Data Analytics

SpectroLab (Included, free, unlimited license): independent current adjustments for each LED line, programmable automated routines running sequential UVA and UVB acquisitions, dark subtraction, and multi-format exports (.xlsx, .csv, .txt, .spc).
Expert / Capture chemometrics suite (Option): multi-wavelength data fusion, principal component analysis (PCA), and PLS regression models for automated identification and quantification based on combined UVA/UVB spectral fingerprints.

💡 Integrate Dual UVA/UVB Fluorescence into Your Workflow

Looking to evaluate a specific solid material, tailor the UVB excitation wavelength (280, 295, or 308 nm), or engineer a custom sampling fixture for your line?

👉 Contact our application engineering team to test your samples or request a quote