FLUOROMETER TO SPECTROPHOTOMETER CONVERTER

A simple accessory has been constructed that will convert a standard l aboratory spectrofluorometer into a spectrophotometer. This attachment fits within the sample compartment of a spectrofluorometer and consis ts of a cuvette holder, two mirrors, and two collimators. Light is red irected from the excitation lamp through the cuvette and then into the emission detector to measure absorbance instead of fluorescence. One to the collimators is a pinhole that greatly restricts the amount of e mission light to prevent saturating the detector that is much more sen sitive than is needed for spectrophotometry. This accessory is inexpen sive, simple, and can preclude the need to buy both types of instrumen ts saving money and laboratory bench space. (C) 1996 American Institut e of Physics.