Anton Paar offers a solution to determining the sulphuric acid content with its range of Abbemat refractometers.
Sulphuric acid (H2SO4) is widely used in the manufacturing processes of various industries. To ensure the quality of the goods these industries produce, it is important to be able to accurately determine the concentration of sulphuric acid at all stages of the process.
Titation is the conventional method of determining sulphuric acid concentration, but can be time-consuming and labour-intensive. Additionally, sulphuric acid’s hygroscopic behaviour can lead to changes in concentration over the time taken to complete titration. The longer the titration process, the greater the deviations in concentration could be, reducing the accuracy of the concentration measurement.
With refractometry, the measuring principle is based on sending a beam of single wavelength light through a measuring prism in contact with the sample. Depending on the difference of the refractive indices between the sulphuric acid solution and prism, the light is partly refracted and reflected, or totally reflected.
The critical angle of total reflection is determined by measurement of the reflected light intensity on a CCD array and yields the refractive index.
Refractive index measurements require only a few drops of sample, reducing wastage and disposal, and increasing the environmental friendliness of the measuring process.
Because temperature is the most influential factor in refractive index measurements, all Anton Paar refractometers are equipped with a built-in temperature control.
This ensures a rapid and even temperature distribution for each sample. The company’s automatic refractometers also combine features such as acceptance limits, data recording and communication as well as internal
temperature control with an accurate and fast refractive index or concentration determination.
The measured values are completely independent of the operator and therefore appropriate for implementation within a standardised measuring process. Anton Paar’s refractometers offer full traceability of all results.
Anton Paar has created an easy-to-use method for the determination of sulphuric acid concentrations in g/100g (%mas). The method is based on the correlation between refractive index and concentration of H2SO4 in g/100g aqueous sulfuric acid solution at 20°C.
The company offers the correct accessories and equipment for safe determination of sulphuric acid content. Micro-flow cells made of PFA and sample wells made of highly corrosion-resistant Hastelloy guarantee full durability for a long product life.
