Infrared Thermal Imaging: A Tool for Simple, Simultaneous, and High-Throughput Enthalpimetric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Analytical Chemistry
• Chemical Thermodynamics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Enthalpimetric analysis traditionally requires specialized equipment and can be time-consuming.
• Contactless temperature monitoring is desirable for sensitive or hazardous reactions.
• Integrating thermal imaging with microplates offers a platform for miniaturized and automated enthalpimetric assays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the feasibility of infrared thermal imaging (ITI) for analytical chemistry applications.
• To introduce and evaluate a novel thermal infrared enthalpimetry (TIE) method using disposable microplates.
• To showcase the reliability and potential of TIE for various reaction types and sample analyses.

Main Methods:

• A system combining ITI with disposable microplates was developed for enthalpimetric analysis.
• The TIE method was evaluated across neutralization, precipitation, redox, and complexation reactions.
• A multichannel pipet and an infrared camera enabled contactless monitoring of up to 24 simultaneous reactions.

Main Results:

• Analytical signals were obtained within 10 seconds, using the temperature difference (ΔT) for calibration.
• The method was successfully applied to determine total acidity in vinegar and chloride, iron, and calcium in pharmaceuticals.
• Results showed excellent agreement (96-101%) with conventional titration methods, with sample throughput reaching thousands per hour.

Conclusions:

• The TIE method, utilizing ITI and microplates, is a reliable and efficient technique for enthalpimetric analysis.
• TIE offers significant advantages in speed, sample throughput, and contactless measurement.
• The method has broad applicability for various matrices and analytical parameters, with potential for integration into portable devices and other analytical platforms.