Ocean Optics LPC-500CM - Manual (Page 9)

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Chapter 1
Introduction
Overview
The Liquid Waveguide Capillary Cell (LWCC) from Ocean Optics features optical sample cells that
combine an increased optical pathlength (50–500 cm) with small sample volumes (125–1250 µL) with
fiber optic capabilities. The LWCC connects with optical fibers to Ocean Optics’ high-sensitivity fiber
optic spectrometers and compact light sources via SMA terminations for simple, efficient measurement of
low-volume or low-concentration (ppb-ppt) aqueous samples. The LWCC functions with most liquids
(with the exception of perfluorinated solvents) having a refractive index >1.30.
Similar to optical fibers, light is confined within the (liquid) core of an LWCC by total internal reflection
at the core/wall interface. Ultra-sensitive absorbance measurements can be performed in the ultraviolet
(UV), visible (VIS) and near-infrared (NIR) ranges to detect low sample concentrations in a laboratory or
process control environment. According to Beer’s Law, the absorbance signal is proportional to chemical
concentration and light path length. Compared with a standard 1-cm cell, a 1-mAU signal is enhanced
fifty-fold with a 50-cm cell to 50 mAU using the LWCC’s patented aqueous waveguide technology.
The LWCC is available in 1-meter (LPC-100CM), 2-meter (LPC-250CM) and 5-meter (LPC-500CM)
pathlengths for absorbance measurements.