Sponsored Content by Avantes BVReviewed by Maria OsipovaAug 21 2024
For over 120 years, agriculturalists have recognized the importance of soil testing, particularly elemental analysis, in ensuring the health and productivity of crops.
This has historically been accomplished by taking random soil samples from a representative area of a field and sending them to a laboratory for analysis via chromatography, mass spectrometry, and multiple wet chemistry approaches. Although precise, the current approach requires a lot of time and is expensive.
Fortunately, recent advancements in compact portable spectroscopy instrumentation have made on-site elemental analysis possible through techniques like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). Portable spectroscopy not only reduces the time and cost of soil analysis but also allows for smaller-scale, localized surveys, facilitating precision agriculture and improving crop yields.
Among the two methodologies, portable LIBS is generally considered superior for soil analysis because XRF cannot measure lighter elements such as carbon, nitrogen, sodium, magnesium, silicon, phosphorus, and potassium—all of which are crucial for assessing soil health and viability. For instance, since nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are three essential nutrients for plant life, NPK testing is vital for determining the appropriate fertilizer.
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About Avantes BV
With over 30 years of expertise, Avantes is the leading innovator in developing fiber-optic spectroscopy instruments and systems. Our commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has made us a trusted partner in the life sciences sector, supporting various applications from biomedical research to clinical diagnostics.
Our Expertise
At Avantes, we pride ourselves on our consultative approach, working closely with clients in the life sciences to develop spectrometer configurations tailored to their specific needs. Our advanced spectrometers, light sources, and fiber-optic sampling accessories enable precise measurements in ultra-violet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths, essential for applications such as biomolecular analysis, tissue characterization, and pharmaceutical research.
Global Reach and Proven Performance
With over 53,000 systems installed worldwide, our solutions are integral to the life sciences community. We provide state-of-the-art technology for spectroscopy and material characterization, ensuring our customers achieve the highest levels of accuracy and reliability in their measurements.
Products and Services for Life Sciences
We offer a broad range of products designed to meet the diverse needs of the life sciences sector:
- Spectrometers: High-resolution, miniature fiber optic spectrometers with options for PDA, CMOS, CCD, back-thinned CCD, and InGaAs detectors, ideal for sensitive biological measurements.
- Optical Benches: Featuring focal lengths of 45, 50, or 75 mm, including our revolutionary ultra-low straylight optimized optical bench (ULS) and high-sensitivity optical bench, perfect for demanding life sciences research.
- Light Sources: Including tungsten-halogen, deuterium, LED, and xenon calibration sources to support a wide range of spectroscopy techniques in life sciences.
- Accessories: Comprehensive selection of fibers, sampling accessories, and custom software to enhance your spectroscopic experiments.
Supported Techniques for Life Sciences
Our instruments support a variety of essential measurement techniques:
- UV-VIS/NIR spectroscopy for analyzing biological samples and chemical compositions
- Absorbance, transmittance, and reflectance for evaluating sample properties
- Fluorescence spectroscopy for studying biomolecules and cellular processes
- Raman spectroscopy for detailed molecular characterization
- Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for elemental analysis
- Differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) for atmospheric measurements
- Irradiance and radiometry for precise light measurements
Commitment to OEM Partnerships in Life Sciences
For OEM customers in the life sciences, we adopt a partnership approach to tailor our solutions and manufacturing processes to the specific needs of end-use applications. Our sales engineers engage in a thorough discovery process to ensure our solutions align perfectly with your requirements. Our team collaborates closely with OEM partners to ensure seamless integration and optimal performance, leveraging our automated manufacturing process, 'AvaMation,' for unmatched reproducibility and scalable production.
Industries We Serve in Life Sciences
Our versatile solutions cater to various sectors within life sciences, including:
- Biomedical research
- Clinical diagnostics
- Pharmaceutical development
- Biotechnology
- Environmental monitoring
Our Mission
At Avantes, we are dedicated to continuously driving innovation in spectroscopy, empowering life sciences professionals with the most reliable and advanced solutions. We are committed to exceeding expectations and providing the support needed to achieve groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in the life sciences.
Visit our website to learn more about how our spectroscopy solutions can support your life sciences research and applications.
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