The document provides a comprehensive overview of UV-visible spectroscopy as a modern analytical technique in pharmaceuticals, detailing the principles of electromagnetic radiation interaction with matter, types of electronic transitions, and the relevant laws governing light absorption. It covers the instrumentation components of UV-Vis spectrophotometers, including light sources, monochromators, sample cells, and detectors, and discusses applications in impurity detection and structure elucidation of organic compounds. Additionally, it addresses the choice of solvents and advanced techniques such as difference and derivative spectroscopy to enhance analysis selectivity and accuracy.

1. UV-VISIBLE SPECTROSCOPY
MODERN PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TECHIQUES
Pharmaceutical Analysis
LIKITHA BOGA
M.PHARMACY I-I

2. INTRODUCTION
• Spectroscopy is the branch of science that deals with the
study of interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.
• Atomic Spectroscopy:
This Spectroscopy is concerned with the interaction of
electromagnetic radiation with atoms.
• Molecular Spectroscopy:
This Spectroscopy deals with the interaction of
electromagnetic radiation with molecule.

3. Frequency (ν):
• It is defined as the number of time electrical field radiation
oscillates in one second.
• unit for frequency is Hertz (Hz).
Wavelength (λ):
• It is the distance between two nearest parts of the wave in the
same phase i.e. distance between two nearest crest or troughs.

4. PRINCIPLE
• It is the measurement and interpretation of Electromagnetic
radiation absorbed or emitted when the molecules or atoms or
ions of sample move from one energy state to another.
• Electromagnetic radiation is given by:
E = hν
Where, E = energy (in joules)
h = Planck’s constant (6.62 × 10-34 Js)
ν = frequency (in seconds)

5. UV SPECTROSCOPY
• UV spectroscopy is concerned with the study of absorption of
UV radiation which ranges from 200nm to 400nm, colored
compounds absorb the radiation from 400nm to 800nm(visible
region).
• Colorless compounds absorb the radiation at UV region. In
both UV spectroscopy and visible spectroscopy, the valence
electrons absorb energy and there by molecules undergo
transition from ground state to excited state.
• This absorption is characteristic and depends on nature of
electrons present in the valence shell of the compound.

6. ELECTRONIC TRANSITIONS
• The absorption of light by a sample in the ultraviolet or
visible region is accompanied by a change in the
electronic state of the molecules in the sample.
• The energy supplied by the light will promote electrons
from their ground state orbital to higher energy or excited
state orbital or anti-bonding orbital.
• Any molecule has either n, π or σ or combination of these
electrons.

7.  σ- σ*transitions:
• σ electron from orbital is excited to corresponding anti-
bonding orbital σ*.The energy required is large for this
transition.
• Example: Methane (CH4) has C-H bond only and can undergo
σ → σ* transition and shows absorbance maxima at 125nm.
 π-π* transitions:
• π electron in a bonding orbital is excited to corresponding anti-
bonding orbital π*.
• Compounds containing multiple bonds like alkenes, alkynes,
carbonyl, nitriles, aromatic compounds, etc undergo π → π*
transitions.
• Example: Alkenes generally absorb in the region 170 to
205nm.

8.  n- σ* transitions:
• Saturated compounds containing atoms with lone pair of
electrons like O, N, S and halogens are capable of n → σ*
transition.
• These transitions usually requires less energy than σ → σ*
transitions.
• The number of organic functional groups with n→ σ* peaks in
UV region is small (150 – 250nm).
 n - π* transitions:
• An electron from non-bonding orbital is promoted to anti-
bonding π* orbital.
• Compounds containing double bond involving hetero atoms
(C=O, C≡N, N=O) undergo such transitions.
• n → π* transitions require minimum energy and show
absorption at longer wavelength around 300nm.

9. ELECTRONIC TRANSITION
A transition in which a bonding σ electron is excited to an anti-
bonding σ orbital is referred to as σ to σ* transition. In the same
way π to π* represents the transition of one electron of a lone pair
(non- bonding electron pair) to an anti-bonding π orbital.
σ-σ* > n-σ* > n-π* > π-π*

10. LAWS
 Beer’s law:
• This law states that, “the amount of light absorbed by a
material is proportional to the concentration”.
 Lambert’s law:
• This law is states that “The amount of the light absorbed is
proportional to the thickness of the absorbing material & is
independent of the intensity of the incident light”.

11. Beer-Lambert’s law
• This combined law states that the amount of light
absorbed is proportional to the Concentration of the
absorbing substance & to the thickness of the absorbing
material.
A = ε b c
A = absorbance
ε = molar absorbtivity with units of L /mol.cm
b = path length of the sample (cuvette)
c = Concentration of the compound in solution,
expressed in mol /L

12. INSTRUMENTATION
Components of UV-Vis Spectrophotometer:
1. Light Source
2. Filters and Monochromators
3. Sample cell
4. Detectors
5. Recording Device

13. 1. LIGTH SOURCE
Ideal Characteristics of a Light Source:
a. It should be stable and should not show fluctuation.
b. It should provide light of sufficient intensity.
c. It should be economical.
d. It should emit a continuous spectrum.
e. It should be simple in construction and operation.

14. TYPES OF LIGHT SOURCE
a. Hydrogen Discharge Lamp
b. Deuterium Lamp
c. Xenon Arc Lamp
d. Tungsten Halogen Lamp
a) HYDROGEN DISCHARGE LAMP:
In Hydrogen discharge lamp pair of electrodes is enclosed in
a glass tube filled with hydrogen gas. When current is passed
through these electrodes maintained at high voltage, discharge
of electrons occurs which excites hydrogen molecules which
in turn cause emission of UV radiation.

15. b) DEUTERIUM LAMP:
It is similar to Hydrogen discharge lamp but instead of
Hydrogen gas, Deuterium gas is used. It provides radiation in
the range (185 - 380nm). The spectroscopic technique is not
useful below 200nm since oxygen absorbs strongly at
185nm.The region below 200nm is called vacuum UV-
region.

16. c) XENON ARC LAMP:
• In this xenon gas is stored under pressure. The UV- light
produced by this lamp is of a greater intensity compared to
hydrogen discharge lamp.
• Since the lamp operates at a high voltage, it becomes very
hot during operations and hence needs thermal insulation.
• Emission of visible radiation also occurs along with the UV-
radiation.
• Wavelength range (200 – 1000)nm.

17. d) TUNGSTEN HALOGEN LAMP:
• It is a special class of lamp with iodine added to the normal
filling gas.
• The envelope is made up of quartz to tolerate higher lamp
operating temperatures.
• Often a heat absorbing filter is inserted between the lamp and
the sample holder to remove IR-radiations.
• The glass envelope absorbs strongly below 350nm.
• Wavelength range (350 – 3000)nm.

18. 2. MONOCHROMATORS
• A monochromator is a device which converts a polychromatic
light to monochromatic light.
Types of monochromators:
a) Prism monochromators:
They are usually made up of glass, quartz or fused silica.
I. Refractive type
II. Reflective type

19. b) Grating monochromators:
• Gratings are made up of glass, quartz or alkyl halides like
KBr and NaBr. Back surface of the gratings are coated with
aluminium to make them reflective.
• Two types of gratings
I. Diffraction gratings
II. Transmission gratings
I. Diffraction gratings:
It works on the mechanism of reinforcement(strengthening).
The incident rays are reinforced with those reflected,
resulting in radiation whose wavelength is expressed by
equation.

20. λ= d(sini ± sinr)
n
Where,
n = order number (0,1,2,3)
λ = wavelength of the resultant
radiation
d = grating spacing
i = angle of incidence
r = angle of reflection

21. II. Transmission gratings:
In this type of grating the refracted rays produce
reinforcement. When the transmitted radiations reinforce
with the refracted radiations, a resultant radiation is obtained
whose wavelength is given by the equation.
λ= d(sinø)
n
λ= wavelength of the resultant radiation
d= grating spacing
Ø= angle of diffraction
n= order number(0,1,2,3)

22. FILTERS
• A filter is a device which allows only the light of required
wavelength to pass through and absorbs the unwanted
radiation.
Types of filters:
a) Absorption filters
b) Interference filters

23. 3. SAMPLE CELL
• Sample cells or cuvettes are used to hold the sample solutions.
• Some typical materials are:
– Optical Glass - 335 - 2500nm
– Special Optical Glass – 320 - 2500nm
– Quartz (Infrared) – 220 - 3800nm
– Quartz (Far-UV) – 170 - 2700nm

24. 4. DETECTORS
• Detectors are the devices which convert light energy into
electrical signals that are displayed on the read out device.
Sample absorbs a part of radiation and the remaining is
transmitted. The transmitted radiation falls on the detector
which determines the intensity of the radiation.
• Types of detectors:
I. Photo multiplier tube
II. Photovoltaic cell
III. Photo tubes

25. I. Photo multiplier tube:
• It works on the principle of multiplication of the photo
electrons by secondary emission of electrons.
• The emission of electrons is increased by a factor of 4 or 5
due to secondary emission of electrons.

26. II. Photo voltaic cell:
• When light rays falls on the selenium layer electrons are
generated and taken by the photocathode. Electrons get
accumulated which results in the generation of electric
current. The current flow causes deflection in the
galvanometer which gives the measure of the intensity of the
radiation.

27. III. Phototubes:
• When lights falls on the photocathode electrons are produced
that travel towards the collector anode and generate current.
• The amount of current generated is directly proportional to
the intensity of light.

28. TYPES OF UV
SPECTROPHOTOMETERS
A. SINGLE BEAM UV VISIBLE SPECTROPHOTOMETER:

29. B. DOUBLE BEAM UV VISIBLE SPECTROPHOTOMETER:

30. APPLICATIONS
• Detection of Impurities- UV absorption spectroscopy is one
of the best methods for determination of impurities in organic
molecules.
• Structure elucidation of organic compounds- UV
spectroscopy is useful in the structure elucidation of organic
molecules, the presence or absence of unsaturation, the
presence of hetero atoms.
• Quantitative analysis- UV absorption spectroscopy can be
used for the quantitative determination of compounds that
absorb UV radiation.
• Qualitative analysis- UV absorption spectroscopy can
characterize those types of compounds which absorbs UV
radiation. Identification is done by comparing the absorption
spectrum with the spectra of known compounds.

31. Detection of Impurities
• UV absorption spectroscopy is one of the best methods for
determination of impurities in organic molecules. Additional
peaks can be observed due to impurities in the sample and it
can be compared with that of standard raw material. By also
measuring the absorbance at specific wavelength, the
impurities can be detected.
• Benzene appears as a common impurity in cyclohexane. Its
presence can be easily detected by its absorption at 255nm.

32. CHOICE OF SOLVETS
• A solvent is a liquid that dissolves another solid, liquid or
gaseous solute resulting in a solution at specified temperature.
• Solvents can be broadly classified into two categories:
i) Polar
ii) Non polar
• A drug may show varied spectrum at particular wavelength in
one particular condition but shall absorb partially at the same
wavelength in another conditions.
• The changes in the spectrum are due to
1. Nature of solvent
2. Nature of absorption band
3. Nature of solute

33. 1. Nature of solvent: most commonly used solvent is 95%
ethanol. It is best solvent as:
• It is cheap.
• Has good dissolving power.
• Does not absorbs radiations above 210nm.
 In choosing a solvent, consideration must be given not only to
its transparency, but also to its possible effects on absorbing
system.
 Benzene, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride can’t be used
because they absorb in the range of 240-280nm.
 It should not itself absorb radiations in the region under
investigation.
 It should be less polar so that it has minimum interaction with
the solute molecules.

34. • Common solvents used in UV spectra:
SOLVENT WAVELENGTH(nm)
Water 205
Methanol 210
Ethanol 210
Ether 210
Cyclohexane 210
Dichloroethane 220

35. EFFECT OF SOLVENT
• A solvent exerts a profound influence on the quality and shape
of spectrum.
• The absorption spectrum of pharmaceutical substance depends
practically upon the solvent that has to been employed to
solubilize the substance.
• A drug may absorb a maximum radiation energy at particular
wavelength in one solvent but shall absorb partially at the
same wavelength in another solvent.
• Example: Acetone in n-hexane λmax at 279nm.
Acetone in water λmax at 264nm.

36. DIFFERENCE
SPECTROSCOPY
• The selectivity and accuracy of spectrophotometric analysis of
sample containing absorbing interference may be markedly
Improved by the technique of difference spectrophotometry.
Advantages:
• The selectivity and accuracy of spectrophotometric analysis of
samples containing absorbing interferents may be markedly
improved by the technique of difference spectrophotometry.
• A substance whose spectrum is unaffected by changes of pH
can be determined by difference spectrophotometric
procedures.

37. DERIVATIVE
SPECTROSCOPY
• Another simplest method for an increasing a selectivity is
derivatization of spectra. this operation allows to remove
spectral interferences and as a consequence leads to increase
selectivity of assay.
• It involves the conversion of a normal spectrum to it’s first,
second or higher derivative spectrum.
• The normal absorption spectrum is referred to as the
fundamental zero order or D0 spectrum.
• The first derivative D1 spectrum is a plot of the rate of change
of absorbance with wavelength against wavelength dA/dʎ.

38.  Multi -component analysis:
• Derivative spectrophotometry(DS) has been mainly used in
pharmaceutical analysis for assaying of a main ingredient in a
presence of others components or its degradation product.
• Calculation of some physico-chemical constants, e.g. reaction,
complexation or binding constants.
• The main disadvantage of derivative spectrophotometry is its
poor reproducibility.

39. THANK YOU