Solar Simulation

Analysts interested in measuring the degradation of molecules due to photodegradation should consider using a photochemical reactor. There are two photochemical reactors in the engineering laboratories, an Oriel ABB solar simulator and Rayonet photochemical reactor. The Oriel ABB solar simulator uses a xenon lamp to replicate the sun’s iridescence spanning a range of wavelengths from 400-1100nm. The Rayonet photochemical reactor exposes samples to light around a single wavelength with specifically designed lamps, e.g. 254nm for wastewater treatment. The lamps can be swapped out for different wavelengths. Once samples are exposed to light in either the Oriel ABB solar simulator or the Rayonet photochemical reactor, samples are typically analyzed with an analytical instrument to determine a compound's degradation or transformation over time after exposure.