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Analytical Capabilities
Laboratory Testing
TRI offers a wide range of analytical testing capabilities, including vibrational spectroscopy, liquid and gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, imaging & microscopy, and thermal analysis. Our scientists usually apply these techniques to cosmetic science applications, such as hair and skin research and metabolomics; however, these instruments are also available to use for textile testing, routine analytical testing, forensic testing, and many other applications. Contact us to discuss your testing needs, whatever they are.
Vibrational Spectroscopies
The term ‘vibrational spectroscopies’ encompasses both Raman and Infra-Red Spectroscopy techniques. These methods can be used to characterise and identify the chemical composition of sample materials. TRI also has equipment that can image the distribution of chemical substances in substrates such as skin, hair, textiles, bones, and teeth. The possibilities are endless.
Fourier-transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Microscopes
On site at TRI
Bruker Lumos II, FTIR Spectrometer and FTIR Microscope
Perkin Elmer Spotlight 400, FTIR Spectrometer and FTIR Microscope
IR spectroscopy relies on the absorbance of radiation at specific frequencies. Absorbance frequencies are related to the structure and composition of the substrate being examined. Modern FTIR microscopes collect spectra across thousands of different sections of an image​ to create 2D distributions of material in the sample.
Portable Fourier-Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectrometer with Optical Probe Attachment
On site at TRI
RemSpec IR Optical Probe
Optical probes with an ATR crystal allow the collection of spectra from just about any surface you choose. Portability means that optical probes are especially useful in pre-clinical and clinical tests on skin, scalp, lips, nails etc.
Confocal Raman Microscope
On site at TRI
WITec Alpha-300R Confocal Raman Microscope
Raman spectroscopy is based on light scattering​ and is a complimentary technique to Infra-red Spectroscopy. Raman spectra are related to the structure and composition of the sample. Confocal Raman Microscopy uses non-destructive optical sectioning to create 3D maps of the chemical composition of your substrate.
UV/VIS Spectrometer
On site at TRI
Agilent Cary 60 UV-Vis Spectrometer, with Optical Probe
Spectroscopy in the UV and visible wavelengths has been used for many years to characterise the chemical composition of samples. Many industry-standard methods use this tool for the measurement of liquid mixtures. An optical probe allows easier analysis of small liquid samples and chemical reactions.
Chromatography
Chromatographic techniques are used to separate mixtures of substances and to identify or measure their formative parts. TRI has capabilities in three areas: High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GCMS). These techniques can be adapted to a wide range of applications.
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) System
On site at TRI
CAMAG® Automatic TLC Sampler 4 (ATS 4) | CAMAG +
CAMAG® Automatic Developing Chamber 2 (ADC 2) | CAMAG +
CAMAG® Chromatogram Immersion Device 3 | CAMAG
CAMAG® TLC Plate Heater 3 | CAMAG +
CAMAG® TLC Scanner 3| CAMAG +
High-performance thin-layer chromatography system with automated sampler, developing chamber, immersion device, plate and scanner.
High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph
On site at TRI
Analytical HPLC, 1260 Infinity II LC System | Agilent
The HPLC equipment is used to separate and analyse non-volatile substances. As with all chromatographic techniques, the compounds separation is based on their affinity to the stationary phase. The carrier of compounds is liquid mobile phase.
Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GCMS)
On site at TRI
GC/MSD, 5977B GC/ 5975C MS instrument | Agilent
The GC-MS is the Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry. The mobile phase is a gas, thus it is used for compounds that can be volatilized. The mass spectrometer enables identification and quantification of discreet compounds.
Imaging & Microscopy
A picture is worth a thousand words. Imaging and microscopy techniques are a very powerful way of investigating and illustrating scientific phenomena. TRI has capabilities low-magnification skin imaging, light microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Time-of-Flight Secondary-Ion Mass Spectroscopy (TOF-SIMS) imaging.
Optical/Fluorescence Microscopy
On site at TRI
Nikon TE 2000-U Inverted Wide-Field Microscope System
Wide-field optical microscopy is one of the most basic of microscopy techniques, used for hundreds of years. Modern microscopes, however, such as the Nikon TE 2000-U, provide many advanced features, such as fluorescence imaging and sophisticated camera systems, essential for the examination of biological specimens.
Thermal Analysis & Vapor Sorption
Thermal analysis techniques use heat as a way of probing the chemical structure and properties of sample materials. TRI has expert capabilities in Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), a technique that enables us to precisely characterise heat-associated phase transitions in liquids, solids, and bio-substrates.
Vapor sorption methods investigate the sorption and desorption of volatile compounds from a porous, solid substrate. Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) allows us to create sorption isotherms for a wide range of volatiles including water, organic solvents and fragrance ingredients.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
On site at TRI
TA Instruments DSC25 and DSC2500
The Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) TA Instruments DSC 25 and DSC2500 are used to characterize the phase transitions that occur in materials as they are heated. The DSC2500 has a modulation option. Modulated DSC determines the total, as well two individual heat flow components (heat capacity component and kinetic component), to provide increased understanding of complex transitions in materials.
Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS)
Surface Measurement Systems DVS1, DVS1000 and DVS Intrinsic
Our Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) instruments are usually used to measure the kinetics of water sorption and desorption in porous solids, for example hair and textiles. They can be adapted to also look at other volatile substances, such as fragrance essential oils, and organic solvents.