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Fluorometers: Recommendations and care

A fluorometer is a laboratory instrument that allows the analysis, identification and quantification of chemicals with molecules capable of fluorescence by the technique of fluorescence spectrophotometry.

This equipment is a special optical device capable of measuring the fluorescent quality of biological or mineral samples. Fluorescence is a type of luminescence that occurs in certain substances, which gives them the quality of being able to absorb electromagnetic radiation (light), and emit some of that energy as radiation at a wavelength other than absorbed.

Structure of a Fluorometer

A fluorometer consists of 4 main components: the radiation source (Xenon lamp or laser) and other lamps that may cover a greater spectrum of wavelengths, an excitation monochromator (which selects the appropriate wavelength for the excitation of the sample), an emission monochromator (which analyzes the emissions produced by the fluorescence emitted by the sample), and a photomultiplier, which receives the light waves and transforms them into a measurable unit (number) that will be directly related to the intensity of light emitted.

Recommendations and care of a fluorometer

  • Perform a computer surface cleanup.
  • Clean filters and light sources.
  • Check electrical installations.
  • Test the operability of the equipment: the equipment is switched on and allowed to warm for about 15 minutes, the wavelength to work with is selected, the function is selected, and adjusted to zero with distilled water.
  • Place the equipment in a place where there is no vibration, excessive heat, humidity or direct light.
  • Protect the equipment from dust. Do not directly touch the optical elements of the equipment such as lenses and filters. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning these components.
  • Let the equipment warm up before making any measurement
  • Periodically check wavelength adjustment, if suspected of wavelength variation.
  • Make sure the reading buckets are clean, no scratches, no fingerprints.

Within the applications where a fluorometer is used, we can mention the following

  • Protein dynamics
  • Quantitative analysis
  • Cell membrane studies
  • The kinetics of enzymes
  • Carbon nanostructures
  • Characterization of fluorescent probes
  • Short-term phosphorescence measures
  • Thermal stability measures

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