How to use a portable refractometer?

Portable refractometers are used to continuously measure the refractive index of media during the process. It can mainly measure the temperature and density of media, including salinity, milk, Brix, alcohol, antifreeze, coolant, wine and honey, and can also be used in beer brewing. Hand-held refractometers, also known as sugar refractometers, are used in many fields such as food industry, breeding industry, and auto repair industry.

How to use a portable refractometer?

Step 1: Open the solar panel, drop 2-3 drops of distilled water or standard solution on the surface of the prism, cover the solar panel, so that the sample solution covers the entire surface of the prism without leaving air bubbles or voids. Before observation, the sample solution should be placed on the prism for about 30 seconds to keep the temperature of the sample consistent with the temperature of the refractometer.

Step 2: Place the refractometer under the light source and observe the sample solution through the eyepiece. You can see the circular area marked with scale. If the image is not clear enough, adjust the focusing tube to make the scale line clearer. The upper part of the area is blue and the lower part is white.

Step 3: Observe the distilled water or standard solution through the eyepiece, and adjust the calibration screw until the boundary line of the blue-white area coincides completely with the 0 scale line. It is necessary to ensure that the ambient temperature is within the range of 20°C or 68°F to ensure that the accuracy of the measurement is not affected. When the temperature fluctuation of the working environment exceeds 5 degrees, please readjust to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the measurement results. If the refractometer is equipped with an automatic temperature compensation system, whenever the instrument is recalibrated, it is necessary to ensure that the ambient temperature during the adjustment is 20°C. After the adjustment is completed,

Step 4: Use the sample solution to be tested instead of distilled water or standard solution, then repeat the first, second, and third steps to read the scale value of the blue-white dividing line. This scale value is an accurate measurement of the concentration of the sample solution. After use, do not wash the refractometer with water to avoid water seeping into the lens barrel. It needs to be wiped clean with a soft damp cloth to avoid corroding and dirtying important optical components, otherwise the measurement results will be inaccurate.

Tips for Using a Refractometer

After measurement, wipe off the attachments on the surface of the prism and cover with a damp cloth. After drying, it should be stored properly.

It is a precision instrument, so handle it with care.

It is necessary to avoid touching or scratching the optics.

It needs to be placed in a dry, clean, non-corrosive air environment to prevent the surface from being cloudy.

During transportation, avoid strong vibrations to avoid damage to optical components and basic structures.