Directions For Using The Perkin Elmer RX1 FT-IR

Restoring Factory Setup

If the screen is blank, press the round button on the monitor to turn it on. If the screen is already on, press the blue Enter key. An old IR spectrum will be on the screen. The range of about 500-4500cm-1 is acceptable for the x axis. The y axis should read %T. If these parameters are not in accordance to those on the screen, you will need to restore the parameters to those of the factory setup. Do this by pressing the white Shift button and then the red Restore button. The screen of the last spectrum taken will appear. Next, press the Setup key (#2 in top row), then the gray Factory key (#1 in top row). The Setup key and Factory key are not labeled because they have different functions as different commands are accessed. Instead of permanent labels, the keys along the top have programmed labels that appear on the bottom of the screen and point to the corresponding key. Even though this step is done to set the parameters at the factory setup, the y axis will not read %T, but Energy. The unit will change to %T when the sample spectrum is taken. The warning that appears at the bottom of the screen can be disregarded.

Collecting a Background Spectrum

It is necessary to collect a backgroud spectrum in order to remove instrument and atmospheric contributions from the sample spectra. You will be using the salt plates that are stored in the dessicator. The dessicator should be somewhere near the instrument.

Place both salt plates on the cell holder, and close the door.

Press the green Scan key, then the green Backg key, then the gray Execute key (#7 in top row). A timer in the lower right hand corner will show that the scan is in progress, and a spectrum should appear within seconds. The spectrum will appear with the appropriate parameters. The following image is what the background spectrum should look like, and explains the existence of various peaks.

Collecting a Sample Spectrum

Remove the salt plates from the FTIR, and use them to prepare the sample. Place a drop of the unknown on the botttom salt plate, add the top salt plate so that the unknown is between the two salt plates, and place in cell holder. Press the green Scan key and then the gray Execute key (#7 in top row). Your sample spectrum will appear on the screen.

Viewing the Spectrum

Use white key to expand the spectrum on the Y axis. Use white key to contract spectrum on the Y axis. Press shift and then rescale to return to the original ordinate limits.

Use white key to expand the spectrum horizontally about the center. This expansion can be used to inspect regions of the spectrum where there are many peaks close together. Use the white key to contract the spectrum to the previous size. Press shift and then rerange to return to the original abscissa range.

Obtaining Peak Frequencies

To obtain peak frequencies press white Shift and white Peakcur key. A verticle black cursor will appear.

Move it left or right with the white or key. When it is on a peak press white Shift and white Mark keys. When finished marking peaks, press shift and white peakcur to remove cursor.

Printing Spectra

Press gray plot key to plot spectrum on printer. Remove salt plates, wipe them with Kim-wipes and place in desiccator.