Application Note:

Absorbance

Theory of absorbance
Light absorption occurs when atoms or molecules take up the energy of a photon of light, thereby reducing
the transmission of light as it is passed through a sample. Light attenuates exponentially as it passes
through clear materials or solutions. So, naturally the reduction of transmitted light is exponentially related
to the concentration of the sample and path length of light traveled (Figure 1A).
%T = [(Transmitted Light) / (Incident Light)] * 100

3.5

3.5

1A

1B

2.5

Absorbance Units

Absorbance Units

2
1.5
1

2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5

0.5

0
0

20

40

60

80

100

0.5

1.5

2.5

2 - Log10 (%T)

% Transmittance

Fig. 1A) % Light transmitted per Absorbance Unit, 1B) relationship between absorbance and %T

Beer-Lambert Law
Beer-Lambert Law relates the transmittance of light to absorbance by taking the negative logarithmic
function, base 10, of the transmittance observed by a sample, which results in a linear relationship to the
intensity of the absorbing species and the distance traveled by light.
Absorbance = 2 - Log10 (T)
In short, Beer-Lambert Law states that the absorbance of a sample is directly proportional to the path length
of the sample holder and the concentration of the sample.
1 cm Light Path

Incident Light

Transmitted
light

Absorbance = 2 Log10 (T)

Filter

Sample
Cuvette

Detector

Figure 2. Absorption measurement scheme

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Application Note:
Absorbance

Range and detection limits

Absorbance Units

Absorbance is measured in absorbance units (Au), which relate to transmittance as seen in figure 1. For
example, 1.0Au is equal to 10% transmittance, 2.0Au is equal to 1% transmittance, and so on in a
logarithmic trend. Because transmittance inherently decreases logarithmically, linearity breaks down at
higher concentrations due to sample saturation (Figure 3). Since the transmitted light at 2.0Au is less than
1%, any increases in concentration will reflect only slight changes in absorbance. Generally, you will never
reach an absorbance of 4.0Au and still maintain a linear relationship. The same applies for lower end limits.

micromolar Concentration

Figure 3. Theoretical response curve of absorbances at increasing concentrations

Samples being measured for absorption, which are primarily clear solutions or close to zero, are subject to
the errors associated with light refraction, reflection, or scattering. For example, scattering can decrease the
transmission of light through a sample and will effect the absorbance even though no absorption is
occurring. These kinds of errors can be reduced in turn maximizing resolution through particle removal,
which minimizes scattering of light and using glass cuvettes, which minimizes absorption of light.

Absorbance Applications
Absorbance measurements can be used to measure the concentrations in different ways such as using
absorption coefficients with pigment calculations or calibration curves as with nutrient analyses. For either
method used the basic principal is to create a correlation factor between absorbance and concentration to
be used for determination of absorbing species in natural samples.

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Application Note:
Absorbance

Pigments
Pigment concentrations are calculated by taking the absorbance reading of the largest peak in a pure
pigment spectrum, as characterized by a spectrophotometer, and dividing that absorbance value by the
pigments specific absorption or molar absorption coefficients.

Absorbance Units (Au)

-1

-1

* 1000

Specific Absorption Coefficient (L g cm )

Pigment

Algal Group
Represented

Specific Absorption
-1
-1
Coefficient (L g cm )

Absorbance Units
(Au)

Calculated
Concentrations (mg/L)

Chlorophyll a

All Algae

87.67

0.2519 ( = 664nm)

2.87

Fucoxanthin

Diatoms

166

0.1675 ( = 443nm)

1.009

Chlorophyll b

Green Algae

51.36

0.3549 ( = 646nm)

6.91

Table 1: Example of spectrophotometric determination of pure pigment concentrations using specific absorption
coefficients (Jeffrey et al 1997) for Chlorophyll a, b, and Fucoxanthin.

The derivations of these coefficients require extremely careful and highly analytical techniques but the end
calculation is very simple. To obtain a specific absorption coefficient of a pigment, one would need to purify
the pigment from all contaminants and either dry or crystallize the molecule. After purification, the resulting
material needs to be dissolved in solvent and measured for absorbance. Keep in mind that absorbance
measurements are solvent specific as well.
The specific absorption coefficient obtained from a spectrum of the pigment would serve as the universal
standard for quantifying this specific pigments concentration from any spectrophotometric measurement.
Specific absorption coefficients of pigments are usually given in volume per weight with respect to path
-1
-1
length of the cuvette used (i.e. liter gram centimeter ).

Nutrients
Nutrient concentrations are simpler calculations and less tedious. The simplicity of nutrient calculations
comes from a basic understanding of algebraic expressions. A calibration curve is produced, which relates
the absorbance to concentration of absorbing species.

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Application Note:
Absorbance

10uM - 50uM

30uM - 70uM

y = 45.965x - 13.353
R2 = 0.9856

60

80
70
Concentration (uM)

50
Concentration (uM)

y = 63.894x - 33.375
R2 = 0.9876

40
30
20

60

Regression equation.
R2 value showing good
linear relationship

50
40
30
20

10

10
0

0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Absorbance Units (Au)

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

Absorbance Units (Au)

Figure 4: Example of established linear correlation between concentration of absorbing species and absorbance
readings (Au) for 2 different working ranges. The equation of the regression can be used to calculate the concentrations of unknown
samples by simply plugging in X values that fall within your working range.

The equation of the curve is used to calculate natural sample concentrations as long as they fit within the
range of the curve (Fig. 4). Accurate concentration values can be achieved from absorbance measurements
if a couple of important points are kept in mind:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)

Choosing a range of absorbance units and establishing a linear calibration curve for that range
If measuring samples outside the range your calibration curve, making sure your samples are diluted to
fit the range calibrated
Following procedure for correct preparation of reagents
Avoid cross contamination among samples
Keeping the optical path constant (i.e. dont change cuvettes sizes while analyzing samples)
Blank correcting by running a reagent blank
Minimizing transmission loss, due to particle scattering, by centrifugation or other means of particle
removal
Minimizing transmission loss by using sample holders that will not absorb of light
Plugging x, the absorbance value from an instrument, into the regression equation, Y = mx+b will
provide you with an accurate estimate of your absorbing species if you have established a good linear
2
relationship as determined by the R value or your regression (Note: Accuracy of estimates increase as
2
your R value increases)

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Application Note:
Absorbance

References:
S. W. Jeffrey, Mantoura R. F. C. and Wright S. W., 1997. Phytoplankton pigments in oceanography.
UNESCO Publishing France, Paris
J. D. H. Strickland and T. R. Parsons, 1972. A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Second Edition,
Bulletin 167. Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Ottawa
Timothy R. Parsons, Maita Y. and Lalli C. M., 1984. A manual of chemical and biological methods for
seawater analysis. First Edition. Pergamon Press Ltd., Great Britain
Brian M. Tissue, 1996. On-line Educational Hypermedia (www.scimedia.com hypermedia for science
education). Science Media Ltd. Irvine, Ca.

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