On October 25^th 2021, Bruker Malaysia Sdn Bhd shared an FTIR spectrometer with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) led by Dr Mohd Rashidi to collaborate on the sample measurements. The Bruker company has lent their powerful spectroscopy technology, the Compact FTIR Spectrometer Alpha II, which is instrumental in chemistry studies and other fields at the Department of Chemistry Faculty of Science UPM.

The Compact FTIR Spectrometer Alpha II from Bruker is the most robust and reliable compact IR spectrometer. It is a wear-free Rock Solid TM interferometer resistant to shocks and vibrations. It offers an advanced stabilization of the IR source, equipped with a durable diode laser operated by patented technology that consistently achieves outstanding wavenumber accuracy and spectral stability. Within 45 hours of the operation time, the Alpha II can chemically acquire 600 high-quality spectra.

The event began with a representative from Bruker (Ms Teo Yong Yin), who gave a briefing on using the Compact FTIR Spectrometer Alpha II. The instrument has been lent to Dr Mohd Rashidi from 25^th to 29^th October 2021. During the data acquisition, a schedule for the use of the device was made to divide the time somewhat based on the number of samples to be analysed for each user who wanted to use the instrument and a total of ten users were involved in the use of the device involving chemistry lecturers, postgraduate students and final year students. Various types of samples were analyzed, such as microplastic, gasoline, face mask, e-liquid and many more. The event was very successful, and the estimated in-kind value is worth RM96,000. In addition, the cost of the instrument is estimated at RM120,000. As one of the benefactors of the short term FTIR facility, Dr Haniff really acknowledges the efficiency and high throughput of the instrument, which has enabled his students to test several samples in a brief period.

This event was partially supported by UKM Grant GUP-2020-052 from the primary investigator, Dr. Noor Hazfalinda Hamzah of the Forensic Science Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

By: Dr. Mohd Rashidi Abdull Manap

Date of Input: 16/12/2021 | Updated: 16/12/2021 | nashrin