The Exoscan and FlexScan hand-held FTIR systems are finding rapid acceptance by scientists involved in all aspects of rock, mineral and soil analysis.

A2 technologies’ hand-held spectrometers have the performance of traditional laboratory spectrometers, but can be used in the field for direct sample measurement.  Researchers who wish to develop methods in the lab and implement them in the field will choose the Exoscan system equipped with its docking station, whereas personnel who mostly will use FTIR in the field will likely choose the Flexscan, due to its light weight.  The optically matched diffuse reflectance sampling interface, which is available on either system, is particularly well suited for measuring samples that tend to scatter or absorb light, such as soil, rocks and minerals.

Researchers in forensic soil analysis, land management and environmental geochemistry have rapidly embraced this new technology.   With FTIR spectroscopy, specific inorganic and organic components in soil can be identified and quantified, providing unique insight into the composition and origin of soils.  These FTIR analyzers are also providing information on the identity and geochemistry of minerals as well as the mineral composition of rocks.

The availability of real-time, field based FTIR spectroscopy means that samples do not need to be sent back to a lab for analysis.  Thus, the scientist can identify and focus attention on field sites of particular interest, while reducing the number of less useful samples that need to be measured, or sent back to the lab for analysis.