Machinery Masters is a marketplace for new and used spectrophotometers, including UV-Vis, fluorescence, and colorimeter instruments that measure how a sample absorbs, transmits, or emits light. A spectrophotometer quantifies light at specific wavelengths to identify and measure the amount of a substance, which makes it one of the most widely used instruments in any laboratory.

From UV-Vis spectrophotometers for assay and quantification to fluorescence spectrometers for high-sensitivity detection and colorimeters for colour measurement, the category covers routine QC and advanced research. Buyers include analytical and QC chemists, research and molecular biology scientists, and procurement teams. Browse verified sellers to compare technique, wavelength range, software version, condition, and price before you buy.

Shop Spectrophotometers by Type

Spectrophotometers span absorbance, fluorescence, and colour measurement in benchtop, microvolume, and portable formats. Selecting the correct type keeps the technique, wavelength range, and sample format matched to what you measure. The main differences between configurations relate to whether the instrument measures absorbance or emission, the wavelength range and optical design, and the sample volume and throughput it handles.

UV-Vis Spectrophotometers

UV-Vis spectrophotometers measure how much ultraviolet and visible light a sample absorbs, the basis of quantification, assay, and identity testing across chemistry and life sciences. Single-beam and double-beam designs serve routine and high-accuracy work, and they are core instruments for pharmaceutical assay, dissolution, and concentration measurement.

Fluorescence Spectrometers (Fluorimeters)

Fluorescence spectrometers, or fluorimeters, excite a sample at one wavelength and measure the light it emits at another, giving far higher sensitivity than absorbance for labelled and naturally fluorescent species. They suit trace quantification, nucleic acid and protein assays, and research where low detection limits matter.

Colorimeters

Colorimeters measure colour and the absorbance of coloured solutions at set wavelengths, giving a simple, robust readout for routine tests. Widely used in water, environmental, food, and clinical work, they deliver fast, cost-effective measurement where a full spectral scan is not required.

Microvolume Spectrophotometers

Microvolume spectrophotometers measure nucleic acid and protein concentration from a tiny drop by UV absorbance, with no cuvette or dilution. They provide the fast concentration and purity checks that molecular biology workflows rely on before sequencing, PCR, and other downstream steps.

Scanning and Diode-Array Spectrophotometers

Scanning spectrophotometers record absorbance across a wavelength range to produce a full spectrum, while diode-array instruments capture the whole spectrum at once for speed. Both support spectral identification, method development, and kinetics, where the shape of the spectrum, not a single wavelength, carries the information.

Cuvettes, Cells, and Accessories

Cuvettes, flow cells, sipper systems, and temperature-control accessories complete and maintain a spectrophotometer. Matching the cell material and path length to the sample and wavelength is essential to accurate results, so laboratories source these consumables alongside the instrument.

Spectrophotometers Brands on Machinery Masters

Machinery Masters lists spectrophotometers from established spectroscopy manufacturers, so you can source a specific make and model or compare comparable instruments across sellers.

Agilent Technologies
Shimadzu
Thermo Fisher Scientific
PerkinElmer
Hitachi High-Tech
Jasco
Mettler-Toledo
Beckman Coulter
Hach
BMG Labtech

Spectrophotometers Applications and Uses

Spectrophotometers are deployed across pharmaceutical, life science, environmental, and industrial settings wherever a substance must be identified or quantified by its interaction with light. Requirements depend on the analyte, the sensitivity needed, and the accreditation framework the laboratory works within.

Pharmaceutical Assay and Identity Testing

Pharmaceutical laboratories use UV-Vis spectrophotometers for assay, identity, content uniformity, and dissolution testing across development and release. The validated absorbance data these instruments generate underpins many pharmacopoeial methods, making a reliable, qualified spectrophotometer central to QC.

Nucleic Acid and Protein Quantification

Molecular biology and research laboratories use microvolume spectrophotometers and fluorimeters to quantify DNA, RNA, and protein and check sample purity. Accurate concentration measurement is essential input for sequencing, PCR, and other downstream workflows.

Colour Measurement and Quality Control

Food, beverage, and manufacturing laboratories use colorimeters and spectrophotometers to measure colour and coloured-solution concentration as quality parameters. Consistent colour measurement supports product quality and specification across production.

Environmental and Water Analysis

Environmental and water laboratories use colorimeters and spectrophotometers to measure nutrients, metals, and other parameters by colorimetric methods against regulatory limits. Reliable absorbance measurement supports the high-throughput testing that monitoring programmes require.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a spectrophotometer and how does it work?

A spectrophotometer measures how much light a sample absorbs or transmits at specific wavelengths. It passes light through the sample, compares the light reaching the detector with the light that entered, and calculates absorbance, which relates to the concentration of the absorbing substance. This makes the spectrophotometer a core tool for identifying and quantifying compounds across chemistry and life science.

What is the difference between UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy?

UV-Vis spectroscopy measures how much ultraviolet and visible light a sample absorbs, which suits routine quantification and identity testing. Fluorescence spectroscopy excites the sample and measures the light it emits, which gives much higher sensitivity for fluorescent and labelled species. UV-Vis is the general-purpose workhorse, while fluorescence reaches lower detection limits where sensitivity is critical.

What is the difference between a spectrophotometer and a colorimeter?

A spectrophotometer measures absorbance across a range of wavelengths and can produce a full spectrum, giving flexibility for many analytes and method development. A colorimeter measures at a few fixed wavelengths, usually for coloured solutions, giving a simpler, lower-cost readout for routine tests. Spectrophotometers offer range and detail, while colorimeters offer speed and simplicity for defined measurements.

What should I consider when buying a spectrophotometer?

Match the technique to your work, choosing UV-Vis, fluorescence, colorimetry, or microvolume, and then check the wavelength range, bandwidth, optical design, and sample format. Consider software, data handling, and, for regulated use, 21 CFR Part 11 compliance and qualification support. For a used instrument, verify the lamp, optics, and detector condition and software version. Confirm the specification with the seller before you buy.

What is the difference between new and used spectrophotometers?

New spectrophotometers arrive with a manufacturer warranty, current software, and full documentation. Used and refurbished instruments offer significant savings from reputable sellers with documented service history and clear provenance. Because performance depends on the lamp, optics, and detector, verify their condition and calibration, and for regulated use, plan to requalify the instrument against your specifications before it enters service.

Where can I buy spectrophotometers on Machinery Masters?

Browse Machinery Masters for new and used UV-Vis spectrophotometers, fluorescence spectrometers, colorimeters, and microvolume spectrophotometers from verified sellers worldwide. Use the search and filter tools to narrow by technique, brand, and specification, then contact sellers directly to request calibration records, service history, and technical specifications before you buy.

Spectrophotometers (UV-Vis, Fluorescence, Colorimeters)

Spectrophotometers (UV-Vis, Fluorescence, Colorimeters)