What are the differences between a spectrofluorometer and a spectrophotometer?

Spectrofluorometer

A spectrofluorometer is an analytical instrument used in fluorescence spectroscopy. It is used to obtain information about the concentration and chemical environment of a compound in a sample by taking advantage of the compound’s fluorescent properties. When using a spectrofluorometer, a certain excitation wavelength is selected and the emission at a single wavelength is observed. Alternatively, the sample can be scanned and the intensity against the wavelength is recorded. 

A spectrofluorometer is used in a wide range of forensic, environmental, medical, and biotechnology applications such as genetic analysis, DNA sequencing, and medical diagnostics. 

Spectrophotometer

A spectrophotometer is an analytical instrument that is used to measure light absorption in order to determine the concentration of a sample. The instrument is designed to use the transmission or reflection properties of a material as a function of wavelength. 

A spectrophotometer is widely used to detect organic compounds, measure the concentration of a sample, and determine the color within a spectral range. It can be used to quantify the transmission or reflection of visible, UV and IR light. 

Useful in quantifying the transmission or reflection of visible light, UV light, or IR light.