​The Vibrational Spectroscopy unit forms part of the Stellenbosch University's Central Analytical Facilities. This unit houses the newly acquired hyperspectral imaging equipment.  Hyperspectral imaging facilitates the study of spectral differences to resolve the chemical composition and spatial distribution of these components and investigate the physical properties of the sample.  Hyperspectral imaging is a fast, accurate technique which allows samples to be analysed non-destructively and non-invasively with minimum or no sample preparation. 

Available equipment

• A Visible Near Infrared (VNIR) system operating in the 400 – 1000 nm spectral range
• A Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) system operating in the 950 – 2500 nm spectral range
• A dual VNIR/SWIR system with the option to scan in transmission or reflectance mode
• Breeze and Evince software (Prediktera) for multivariate image analysis

This technology has applications across a broad spectrum of fields with applications reported for food quality and safety, medical, agricultural, archaeological, palaeontological and the pharmaceutical industries.