Advanced FTIR analysis enhances trace-level detection and lubricant testing

The Austrian instrumentation specialist eralytics has expanded the technical capabilities of its eraspec oil, a portable, stand-alone FTIR lubricant analyser. Designed to deliver laboratory-grade precision directly on-site, the analyser utilises a fully automated, solvent-free workflow with an integrated sample pump. To address increasingly demanding field requirements, eralytics has introduced three advanced hardware and software features designed to enhance trace-level detection, water quantification, and rapid product verification.

Triple-cell design
The hardware integrates an additional 500µm measurement cell alongside the standard 100 µm cell and a built-in reference cell. This dual-path-length configuration improves the Limit of Detection (LOD) for antioxidant additives (such as phenolic antioxidants), water, and esters. The analyser's software automatically calculates and reports the result using the 500µm cell when concentrations fall below a standard threshold.

Chemometric water quantification
Eraspec oil provides a chemometric model for the determination of water, calibrated to ASTM D6304-B (Karl Fischer oven method). The model utilises specific spectral regions to isolate water absorption, while avoiding interferences from oxidation products and oil additives. For water concentrations of 50ppm or higher, this doubles analytical performance compared to direct FTIR methods, while still providing results in under two minutes.

Automated fingerprinting
FTIR spectral matching using the eraspec oil analysers provides an objective method for product identification of fresh lubricating oils. This capability verifies an unknown lubricant's unique molecular fingerprint by cross-referencing its spectrum against an on-board reference database. The analytical process relies on a matching algorithm that calculates a Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the optimal product match. This new feature was developed to enhance process reliability and optimise incoming goods inspections.