MPD UV-1100 Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer

Overview

The MPD UV-1100 Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrophotometer is a precision single-beam optical instrument engineered for routine quantitative and qualitative analysis in academic laboratories, quality control environments, and industrial R&D settings. It operates on the fundamental principle of Beer–Lambert law-based absorbance measurement, utilizing ultraviolet and visible light absorption characteristics of analytes to determine concentration, purity, or molecular structure. The system employs a fixed-grating monochromator with 1200 lines/mm ruled grating, coupled with imported silicon photodiode detection and dual-source illumination (deuterium lamp for 200–340 nm UV region and tungsten-halogen lamp for 340–1000 nm visible/NIR region), enabling continuous spectral coverage across the full 200–1000 nm range. Its 4 nm spectral bandwidth ensures adequate resolution for most standard applications—including nucleic acid quantification, enzyme kinetics, dye concentration calibration, and pharmaceutical assay validation—while maintaining high photometric stability and signal-to-noise ratio.

Key Features

• Motorized auto-wavelength scanning with ±2 nm accuracy, traceable to NIST-certified reference standards
• Plug-in socket design for deuterium and tungsten lamps—enabling rapid source replacement without optical realignment or recalibration
• Large 128×64 dot-matrix LCD display supporting direct visualization of up to 200 stored spectra or measurement sets
• Internal non-volatile memory retains 200 measurement records, including wavelength, absorbance/ transmittance values, and timestamp metadata
• Wide sample compartment accommodating standard cuvettes from 5 mm to 100 mm pathlength, compatible with square, rectangular, and flow-cell configurations
• Independent lamp control circuitry allows selective activation of either deuterium or tungsten source—reducing unnecessary lamp aging and extending service life
• USB 2.0 interface compliant with Windows OS platforms (7/10/11), supporting data export in CSV and TXT formats for downstream statistical analysis or LIMS integration

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The UV-1100 accommodates liquid, solution-phase samples in quartz, fused silica, or high-transmission glass cuvettes (standard 10 mm pathlength recommended for UV measurements). It supports common analytical protocols aligned with ASTM E275, ISO 6425, and USP for spectrophotometric instrumentation verification. While not inherently 21 CFR Part 11 compliant due to absence of electronic signature capability, its data logging architecture—including timestamped storage and uneditable internal memory—supports GLP/GMP documentation requirements when paired with validated third-party software and procedural controls. All optical components meet RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU environmental compliance standards.

Software & Data Management

The instrument interfaces with MPD’s proprietary UVWin software suite (v3.5+), offering wavelength scanning, kinetic time-course monitoring, multi-point quantitative analysis, and standard curve generation with linear/nonlinear regression. Raw spectral data are exported via USB in ASCII-delimited format, facilitating import into MATLAB, OriginLab, or Excel for advanced curve fitting, derivative spectroscopy, or multivariate calibration. The parallel port output supports legacy thermal or dot-matrix printers for audit-trail hardcopy generation in regulated environments where electronic archiving is not yet established.

Applications

• Quantitative determination of DNA, RNA, and protein concentrations using A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ ratios
• Colorimetric assays such as Bradford, Lowry, and BCA under standardized conditions
• Pharmaceutical raw material identification and assay validation per EP/USP monographs
• Water quality analysis including nitrate, phosphate, and COD estimation via colorimetric reagents
• Educational laboratory instruction in analytical chemistry, biochemistry, and materials science curricula
• Quality assurance testing of dyes, pigments, and optical filters in manufacturing QA/QC workflows

FAQ

Does the UV-1100 support automatic baseline correction?

Yes—baseline correction is performed manually prior to sample measurement using a blank reference, consistent with single-beam spectrophotometric best practices.
Is the instrument suitable for kinetic measurements?

It supports time-scan mode at user-defined intervals (minimum 1-second interval), enabling basic enzymatic or reaction rate studies when paired with UVWin software.
Can the wavelength accuracy be verified in-house?

Yes—using certified holmium oxide or didymium glass filters (e.g., NIST SRM 2034), users may perform periodic wavelength verification per ISO/IEC 17025 internal calibration procedures.
What maintenance is required for long-term stability?

Annual lamp replacement (typical deuterium lamp lifetime: ~1000 hours; tungsten: ~2000 hours), quarterly cleaning of optical surfaces with lens-grade tissue and isopropanol, and biannual verification of wavelength and photometric accuracy using traceable standards.
Is remote operation possible via Ethernet or Wi-Fi?

No—the UV-1100 features only USB and parallel port connectivity; networked operation requires external USB-to-Ethernet adapters and custom driver integration, not supported out-of-the-box.