Refractometry & Polarimetry


Training and adoption


Successful adoption of new technology depends heavily on user acceptance and proper training:


• Training programs: Refractometers are easy to operate and almost self-explaining. However, a comprehensive training for laboratory personnel on using refractometers ensures accurate and reliable measurements.


• Ease of adoption: Due to its straightforward operation, refractometry can be quickly learned and integrated into daily laboratory routines, minimising disruption.


Standardisation and compliance


Ensuring that refractometry meets industry standards and compliance requirements is essential:


• Standardisation: Developing standardised procedures for refractometry in various applications ensures consistency and reliability across measurements.


• Regulatory compliance: Adapting refractometry protocols to meet regulatory standards is vital, particularly in industries like pharmaceuticals where compliance with stringent guidelines is mandatory.


Technological integration


Incorporating refractometry with other Anton Paar laboratory technologies enhances both functionality and data management:


• Data integration: Connecting refractometry equipment to laboratory information management systems (LIMS) allows for seamless data recording and analysis.


• Multiparameter measurements: The potential for multiparameter measurements by combining the refractometer with other measuring technologies, e.g. the DMA density meter, the SVM viscosity meter or the MCP polarimeter, provides many opportunities to measure all parameters within one step. This can be combined with automatic sample handling, further increasing effi ciency.


Limitations and challenges of refractometry


While refractometry presents many advantages, recognising its limitations is crucial, especially when integrating it into diverse laboratory settings.


Specifi city limitations


Binary solutions: Refractometry is ideal for pure chemicals or binary solutions because it does not measure one component selectively within a multi-component mixture. Therefore, a concentration measurement in multi-component mixtures would not be possible without further processing.


Figure 3: Abbemat refractometer integrated into a multiparameter measuring system from Anton Paar: Several parameters of a sample can be determined in a single measuring cycle. Together with our sample changers, a large number of samples can be analysed in fully automated single-run mode.


Applications


Chemical and pharmaceutical industry: In chemical and pharmaceutical companies a signifi cant effi ciency improvement in quality control is possible by adopting a refractometer, reducing both testing time and chemical usage.


Beverage industry: In the beverage sector, refractometers are typically used for the quality control of the incoming raw material, but also for the measurement of juice concentrate and the fi nal bottled juice.


Food industry: As the sample doesn’t need to be liquid, a refractometer can be used for the quality control of highly viscous or solid samples. Even if it cannot be used for concentration measurement of one particular component in a multicomponent mixture, a refractometer can speed up the quality check of mixtures, such as marmalade or ketchup, by measuring the refractive index of the whole mixture.


Conclusion


Abbemat refractometers from Anton Paar offer a great alternative to traditional titration, promising speed, effi ciency, and cost-effectiveness. They suit modern laboratories well, especially those requiring rapid turnaround and minimal sample handling. Despite limitations with complex mixtures, the technology is an excellent alternative for the measurement of acid and base concentrations and can be used for other applications, such as quality control in the laboratory.


Read, Share and Comment on this Article, visit: www.labmate-online.com/article ISO 17034 & 17025-certifi ed refractive index standards to ensure accuracy and traceability


Obtaining highly reliable analysis data is key to operating a successful business regardless of industry. For analytical instruments to continually achieve pinpoint results across even the finest of measurement parameter changes, maintenance is mandatory. If regular maintenance is not performed, instrument reliability may fall considerably, a regrettable outcome for owners of expensive analysers who care about getting quality work done.


In addition to being a trusted analytical instruments maker for over 60 years, Kyoto Electronics Manufacturing (KEM) is also a producer of refractive index and density liquid standards, traceable to the stringent requirements of the national Japanese standard. KEM’s high-quality standard liquids are used to verify if your refractometer or density meter is in good working order, ensuring the high reliability of your day-to- day analysis results.


KEM’s liquid standards laboratory fulfils ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories and successfully operates a quality management system in accordance with ISO 17034.


As KEM has decades of proven technical prowess and reliability, and furthermore, continues to achieve compliance with stringent international standards, you can have the utmost confidence in using their exemplary liquid standards to validate refractometers and density meters.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/2vxj and ilmt.co/PL/lvWn 62548pr@reply-direct.com


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