Introducing irCARE™: A Game-Changer in Hydrocarbon Analysis Using FTIR

In a world where environmental risks from petroleum contamination demand faster, smarter, and more accessible tools, a breakthrough technology is here to change the game — irCARE™.

Developed and patented by the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE), irCARE™ is the world’s first system that enables rapid, field-based identification of dominant carbon fractions in petroleum hydrocarbons using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) — eliminating the need for traditional, complex gas chromatography (GC).

Why irCARE™ is Revolutionary

Historically, FTIR was only used to measure total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in soils. But with irCARE™, for the first time, this technology can go further — classifying PH fractions (such as aliphatics, aromatics, and others) with speed and precision.

Conventional methods for PH fraction analysis are lab-intensive, slow, and require specialist training. More importantly, they offer just a snapshot in time, making it difficult to monitor changes in contamination levels or product quality dynamically.

irCARE™ solves these problems.

Key Features and Applications

✔ Rapid In-Field Contamination Assessment
When paired with a handheld FTIR, irCARE™ allows users to perform real-time TPH quantification and fraction classification directly in the field — no lab, no delays.

✔ Non-Destructive and Versatile
Samples stay intact, and results can be generated without elaborate pre-treatment or chemical reagents. This makes irCARE™ ideal for environmental site assessments, emergency spill response, and ongoing monitoring.

✔ Product Quality Control
Beyond soil contamination, irCARE™ is applicable to material testing and quality assurance in petroleum and chemical industries — ensuring product consistency and safety.

✔ Web-Based and User-Friendly
One of irCARE™’s most powerful features is its web-based interface. Users — even those with no analytical chemistry background — can simply upload FTIR spectral data and receive immediate analytical results.

✔ Compatible with Any FTIR Instrument
There’s no need to invest in proprietary hardware. irCARE™ works seamlessly with all FTIR brands, including both handheld and laboratory-based instruments.

A New Standard for Contaminated Site Assessment

Whether you're an environmental consultant, remediation specialist, field technician, or product quality manager, irCARE™ offers a faster, more cost-effective, and accessible pathway to reliable hydrocarbon analysis.

This is not just an innovation — it's a shift in how we monitor, assess, and respond to petroleum-related contamination.

Discover irCARE™ — transforming infrared spectroscopy into a powerful tool for real-world challenges.

For more information, please see our publications:

• An application of rapid handheld FTIR petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminant measurement with transport models for site assessment
• Application of infrared spectrum for rapid classification of dominant petroleum hydrocarbon fractions