MPA II The new Multi Purpose Analyzer

Significance of the Topic

The Multi Purpose Analyzer II (MPA II) exemplifies the modern shift towards rapid, non-destructive FT-NIR analysis in quality control and process monitoring. By combining high spectral resolution with robust hardware, FT-NIR instruments enable laboratories and production facilities to perform complex quantitative and qualitative analyses with minimal sample preparation and high throughput.

Objectives and Overview

This summary outlines the design principles, modular sampling options, and software ecosystem of the MPA II. Key aims include demonstrating its flexibility for method development and routine QA/QC tasks, detailing the built-in validation features, and highlighting its applicability across industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food, and feed.

Instrumentation

The MPA II integrates a permanently aligned RockSolid™ interferometer with gold-coated cube-corner mirrors, a long-life light source, and InGaAs detectors for full wavenumber coverage and stable performance. Sampling modules cover fiber optic probes (transmission and reflection), integrating spheres, transmission units, and custom sample holders for liquids, solids, semi-solids, and tablets. The system supports automated sample wheels and temperature-controlled cells.

Main Features and Discussion

The MPA II offers modular hardware configurable to diverse analytical tasks, from bulk raw material identification to tablet content uniformity testing. Ethernet connectivity and the OPUS software suite facilitate remote diagnostics, networked instrument management, and compliance with cGMP and 21 CFR Part 11. Automated validation with internal reference filters and external standards ensures ongoing instrument qualification. Calibration transfer between MPA II instruments and other Bruker FT-NIR platforms is seamless, reducing method redevelopment time.

Benefits and Practical Applications

With intuitive OPUS/LAB interfaces and advanced packages (OPUS/IDENT, OPUS/QUANT2, ONET), users can perform routine analyses with minimal training, implement multivariate calibration models, and centralize data across multiple instruments. Applications include moisture and composition analysis in chemicals and petrochemicals, nutritional profiling in food and feed, API identification and impurity screening in pharmaceuticals, and polymer property evaluation.

Future Trends and Potential Uses

Advances in miniaturization, cloud-based calibration libraries, and embedded AI algorithms are poised to further enhance FT-NIR capabilities. Integrated sensor networks and real-time process feedback will drive broader adoption in continuous manufacturing and inline quality monitoring.

Conclusion

The MPA II represents a versatile, high-performance FT-NIR platform that meets the evolving demands of modern analytical laboratories and production environments. Its combination of robust hardware, flexible sampling, comprehensive software, and regulatory compliance makes it an ideal choice for both routine QC and advanced method development.