ZOLIX GaiaChem NIR/SWIR Hyperspectral Imaging Spectrometer
| Brand | ZOLIX |
|---|---|
| Origin | Beijing, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) |
| Regional Classification | Domestic (China) |
| Model | GaiaChem |
| Pricing | Upon Request |
| Operating Mode | Push-broom Scanning |
| Spectral Range (nm) | 900–1700 (NIR) / 970–2500 (SWIR) |
| Spectral Resolution (nm) | 6 (NIR) / 10 (SWIR) |
| Spectral Bands | 256 |
| Spatial Pixels per Line | 320 |
| Spatial Resolution (µm) | 30–300 |
| Scan Range (mm) | 10–100 |
| Max Sample Dimensions (mm) | 100 × 100 × 40 (W × L × T) |
| Max Scan Speed | 100 hyperspectral line images/s |
| Typical Acquisition Time | 3–10 s (320 × 320 spatial pixels, 256 bands) |
| Illumination Source | SPECIM Diffused Line Illumination Unit |
| Data Format | BIL (Band Interleaved by Line), ENVI & Evince Compatible |
| Spectral Calibration | Factory-performed |
| Reflectance Intensity Calibration | Auto-compensated per scan using internal reference tile |
Overview
The ZOLIX GaiaChem NIR/SWIR Hyperspectral Imaging Spectrometer is a laboratory-grade push-broom scanning instrument engineered for simultaneous acquisition of spatially resolved spectral data across the near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) regions. It integrates a high-resolution imaging spectrometer with a calibrated line-scan camera and precision mechanical translation stage to deliver co-registered spectral cubes (x, y, λ) with deterministic geometric fidelity. The system operates on the principle of spatial-spectral separation: as the sample moves continuously under a collimated line illumination source, dispersed spectral information is captured line-by-line onto a 2D sensor—each column representing wavelength and each row representing one spatial position along the scan direction. This architecture ensures high photon throughput, minimal thermal perturbation during measurement, and intrinsic alignment stability between spectral and spatial axes—critical for quantitative chemometric modeling and pixel-wise material classification.
Key Features
- Two configurable spectral variants: GaiaChem-NIR (900–1700 nm, 6 nm resolution) and GaiaChem-SWIR (970–2500 nm, 10 nm resolution), both delivering 256 discrete spectral bands per spatial line
- Adjustable spatial sampling from 30 µm to 300 µm, enabling optimization between fine-grained compositional mapping and rapid macro-scale screening
- Standardized sample handling platform accommodating specimens up to 100 mm × 100 mm × 40 mm (W × L × T), compatible with flat, curved, or irregularly shaped solid samples without custom fixturing
- Integrated SPECIM diffused line illumination unit providing uniform spectral irradiance across the full field-of-view, minimizing hot-spot artifacts and shadowing effects
- Real-time reflectance calibration performed automatically before each scan using an onboard PTFE-based reference tile, ensuring traceable radiometric consistency across sessions and instruments
- Rugged opto-mechanical design with thermally stable aluminum housing and kinematic mounting interfaces, suitable for integration into controlled-environment laboratories or QC environments requiring GLP-compliant operation
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The GaiaChem supports non-destructive, contactless analysis of heterogeneous solid-phase materials including pharmaceutical tablets, agricultural seeds, biological tissues, polymer blends, and botanical specimens. Its rapid acquisition capability—up to 100 line images per second—minimizes water evaporation and thermal degradation in moisture-sensitive samples such as fresh produce or hydrated biomaterials. The system complies with fundamental requirements for spectroscopic instrumentation under ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for testing laboratories, and its data structure (BIL format) aligns with ASTM E131–22 (Standard Terminology Relating to Molecular Spectroscopy). While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11–certified out-of-the-box, the ChemaDAQ software architecture supports audit-trail logging and user-access controls when deployed within validated IT infrastructure meeting GMP/GLP documentation standards.
Software & Data Management
ChemaDAQ is the native acquisition and preprocessing suite for the GaiaChem platform. It provides real-time preview of spectral cubes, automated dark-current subtraction, spectral band selection, region-of-interest (ROI) definition, and export to industry-standard formats—including ENVI-compatible BIL files and CSV exports for individual spectra. All raw and processed datasets retain embedded metadata (wavelength vectors, spatial scale, illumination settings, calibration timestamps), facilitating reproducible downstream analysis in third-party platforms such as ENVI, MATLAB, Python (scikit-learn, hylite), or commercial chemometrics packages (Unscrambler X, Pirouette). The software supports batch processing workflows and scripting via COM interface, enabling integration into automated analytical pipelines compliant with laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
Applications
- Agricultural & Food Science: Quantitative mapping of starch, protein, moisture, and lipid distribution in cereal grains, legumes, and processed foods; detection of fungal contamination or adulteration in bulk commodities
- Pharmaceutical Development: Uniformity assessment of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) distribution in tablet matrices; identification of coating defects or phase segregation in multi-layer formulations
- Life Sciences: Label-free biochemical contrast imaging of tissue sections; spatial profiling of fat-to-muscle ratios in meat products or adipose tissue models
- Materials Characterization: Identification and localization of polymer additives, fillers, or degradation markers in composite films and packaging materials
- Forensic & Authentication: Non-invasive differentiation of ink formulations, paper substrates, or counterfeit drug products based on spectral fingerprinting
FAQ
What spectral calibration standards are used during factory commissioning?
Each GaiaChem unit undergoes wavelength calibration using NIST-traceable holmium oxide and didymium glass filters, with final verification against a calibrated tungsten-halogen source across the full operational range.
Can the system be operated in reflectance mode only, or does it support transmittance measurements?
The standard configuration is optimized for diffuse reflectance geometry. Transmittance mode requires optional rear-illuminated sample holders and collimated beam delivery modules—available as OEM accessories upon request.
Is spectral data export compatible with multivariate statistical software such as SIMCA or The Unscrambler?
Yes—BIL files include header metadata readable by ENVI, and ASCII exports (CSV/TXT) of spectral libraries or ROI-averaged spectra are directly importable into SIMCA, Unscrambler X, and R-based chemometrics frameworks.
How is long-term radiometric stability maintained between measurement sessions?
Daily reflectance calibration against the internal PTFE reference tile corrects for lamp drift and detector responsivity shifts. For extended campaigns, users may schedule periodic recalibration using external certified standards per ISO 13406-2 guidelines.
Does the system support hyperspectral time-series acquisition (e.g., dynamic curing or drying processes)?
While primarily designed for static or quasi-static samples, the GaiaChem can acquire sequential single-line scans at up to 100 Hz, enabling limited kinetic profiling of surface phenomena—subject to synchronization with external triggers via TTL I/O ports.
