Purpose
These references can be used to qualify the absorbance accuracy and linearity of visible spectrophotometers with a spectral bandwidth of 6.5 nm or less, over the wavelength range 440 -635 nm. Measurements made with these references will be accepted as evidence of instrument qualification by: • United States Pharmacopeia • American Society for Testing and Materials • Therapeutic Goods Administration (Australia) • British Pharmacopoeia
Description and Discussion
Glass filters mounted ‘stress free’ in an anodised aluminium holder. The use of Schott NG-type glasses has been used for over thirty years for the validation of the absorbance scale and linearity of spectrophotometers in the visible region. Filters with a wide range of transmission and absorbance values can be produced. The spectrum of these filters is essentially flat over the range of calibration.
A range of 18 filters is available from Starna, covering absorbance values from approximately 0.04 A to 3.5 A (see How to Order, below). Originally, these filter were manufactured with selected transmission values. Available transmission values and equivalent absorbances are: All Starna neutral density filters are manufactured and certified in accordance with the ‘Technical Specification for Certification of Spectrophotometric NIST Traceable Reference Materials’ (NIST Special Publication 260-140).
|
% Transmission |
Absorbance |
|
92 |
0.04 |
|
79.4 |
0.10 |
| 73 | 0.14 |
| 60 | 0.22 |
| 56.5 | 0.25 |
| 50 | 0.30 |
| 40 | 0.40 |
| 30 | 0.52 |
| 25 | 0.60 |
| 20 | 0.70 |
| 10 | 1.00 |
| 6 | 1.22 |
| 3 | 1.52 |
| 1.5 | 1.82 |
| 1 | 2.00 |
| 0.3 | 2.52 |
| 0.1 | 3.00 |
| 0.06 | 3.22 |
| 0.03 | 3.52 |
This recommends calibration at 440 nm, 465 nm 546.1 nm 590 nm and 635 nm, and Starna filters are certified at these wavelengths. NIST also lists three specifications for neutral density filter Standard Reference Materials (SRMs): SRM 930e, SRM 1930 and SRM 2930. These specifications also stipulate the maximum spectral bandwidth to be used at these wavelengths for certification measurements:
|
Wavelength(nm) |
440 |
465 |
546.1 |
590 |
635 |
|
SBW (NM) |
2.2 |
2.7 |
6.5 |
5.4 |
6.0 |
For those users wishing to work to these specifications, sets of filters equivalent to these SRMs are available (see How to Order). For convenience, but to comply with the SRM specifications, all certification measurements are made at a SBW of 1.0 nm. These sets consist of three filters together with an empty aluminium holder, to be used as a blank.
|
|
SRM 930e |
SRM 1930 |
SRM 2930 |
|||
|
|
%T |
A |
%T |
A |
%T | A |
|
Filter 1 |
10 |
1.0 |
1 |
2.0 |
0.1 | 3.0 |
|
Filter 2 |
20 |
0.7 |
3 |
1.5 |
0.3 | 2.5 |
|
Filter 3 |
30 |
0.5 |
50 |
0.3 |
92 | 0.04 |
These SRMs were originally specified in transmittance, the specified nominal transmittance and approximate absorbance values are given below: Certificate values are given in both %T and Absorbance.
Catalogue Number
NIST Equivalent SRM Sets
Three specifications for neutral density filter Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) are listed by NIST: SRM 930e, SRM 1930 and SRM 2930. For those users wishing to work to these specifications, sets of filters equivalent to these SRMs are available:
| Catalogue Number | |
|
SRM 930e equivalent set: |
RM-1N2N3N |
|
SRM 1930 equivalent set |
RM-N1N35N |
|
SRM 2930 equivalent set |
RM-D1D39N |
|
NIST SRM Set |
RM-SRM9ND |
Visible Spectrophotometer Qualification Set
This is a convenient way of qualifying a visible spectrophotometer for photometric accuracy, linearity and wavelength accuracy.
| Catalogue Number | |
|
Starna Transmission/Absorbance and Wavelength Set Holmium Glass Filter |
1N3N5DHG |