instrumentanalyse

Instrumentanalyse, or instrumental analysis, is a branch of analytical chemistry that uses scientific instruments to determine the composition, concentration, structure, or physical properties of substances. It relies on measurement techniques that translate a sample’s properties into analyzable signals, often enabling quantitative results and high sensitivity. The approach complements wet-chemical methods by providing automation, speed, and the ability to handle complex matrices.

The typical workflow includes sample preparation, selection and calibration of an appropriate instrument or method, data acquisition, data processing and interpretation, and method validation. Rigorous quality control, including calibration curves, blanks, and reference materials, ensures accuracy and traceability. Instrumentanalyse is applied across many sectors, such as environmental monitoring, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage safety, materials science, and clinical diagnostics.

Common techniques encompass spectroscopy (for example UV–Vis, infrared, Raman, and nuclear magnetic resonance), chromatography coupled to detectors (gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography, often with mass spectrometric detectors), mass spectrometry itself for molecular identification and quantification, and atomic or electrochemical methods (such as atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma emission/mass spectrometry, and various electrochemical sensors). Other important methods include thermal analysis and X-ray-based techniques for structural and phase information.

Key considerations in instrumentanalyse are accuracy, precision, limits of detection, linearity, calibration models, sample integrity, and method robustness. The field has advanced with improvements in detector sensitivity, data processing algorithms, and standardization, enabling reliable inter-laboratory comparisons.