---
type: "WebPage"
title: "Laboratory polarimeter analysis"
description: "You want to assess the rotatory power of your materials using a polarimeter What is a polarimeter analysis? Polarimetric analysis (also known as polarimetry) is a molecular characterisation technique. It is an optical measurement used to determine the concentration and..."
resource: "https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-polarimeter-analysis/"
tags: ["EN", "pll_65f1b3d4558db", "Chemical analysis"]
timestamp: "2025-12-31T08:33:48Z"
published: "2024-09-04T11:31:35Z"
language: "en"
author: "bwa"
---

# Laboratory polarimeter analysis

## You want to assess the rotatory power of your materials using a polarimeter

### What is a polarimeter analysis?

Polarimetric analysis (also known as polarimetry) is a molecular characterisation technique. It is an optical measurement used to determine the concentration and [purity](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-expertise-services/laboratory-analysis-deposit-contamination/purity-analysis-laboratory.md) of [substances](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/chemical-analysis-laboratory/identification-of-a-chemical-substance-in-the-laboratory.md) in solution. It can also be used to identify certain specific properties of molecules, such as their **rotatory power**. The principle of this method is based on the phenomenon of the polarisation of light and the fact that certain substances have the ability to rotate the plane of polarisation of the light passing through them.

 ![analyse par polarimètre](https://filab.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/polarimetre-1024x768.jpg)
### What is the principle behind polarimeter analysis?

To operate a polarimeter, a light source emits light that is polarised by a polariser before passing through the sample to be analysed. When the polarised light passes through an optically active substance, the plane of polarisation of the light is rotated by a specific angle. After passing through the sample, the light passes through an analyser, a second polariser, which measures the angle of rotation. The angle of rotation depends on the concentration of the substance in solution, the length of the tube containing the sample, the temperature and the type of light used (its wavelength).

### What industries use polarimetry?

Polarimetry is an analysis technique widely used in a variety of sectors, including:

- **[Pharmaceuticals](https://filab.fr/en/sectors-of-activity/analysis-industry-pharmaceuticals.md) and [chemicals](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/chemical-analysis-laboratory.md)**: to [characterise](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-material-testing/) pure [substances](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/polymer-materials-analysis-laboratory/laboratory-material-testing/) and check product quality.
- [**Scientific research and development**](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/rd.md): to study the properties of new molecules and materials.

## The FILAB laboratory offers polarimetric analysis of rotatory power

### What are the advantages of polarimetric analysis?

The polarimetric analysis technique has a number of advantages, including simplicity, non-destructiveness and the ability to make rapid, accurate measurements. However, this technique requires optically active substances to be effective and can be influenced by external factors such as temperature, the wavelength of the light used and the presence of other substances in the sample that may also be optically active.

### FILAB: measurement of rotatory power using a polarimeter

The FILAB laboratory can help you [measure the rotatory power](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/chemical-analysis-laboratory/determination-of-the-rotatory-power-in-laboratory.md) of your matrices (liquid solutions, gels, etc.). Thanks to its state-of-the-art [analytical equipment](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources.md) and its team of experts, the FILAB laboratory can provide you with analytical services. From the design to the manufacture and marketing of a product.

In order to respond accurately and reliably to these issues, FILAB offers tailor-made support for the analysis of your products and other formulations, as well as the measurement of rotational power.

 ![analyse par polarimètre](https://filab.fr/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Caprylyl-glycol.png)
## our additional analysis services

[CHONS analyser](https://filab.fr/en/our-services/our-analysis-services/chemical-analysis-laboratory/chons-laboratory-analysis/)

[ICP](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-icp-icp-ms-icp-aes.md)

[RMN](https://filab.fr/en/our-technical-resources/laboratory-analysis-nmr.md)