What Is an Automatic Potentiometric Titrator?
An automatic potentiometric titrator is a device that automates titration, the determination of the equivalence point, and the calculation of concentration in titration analysis. It reduces the potential for human errors in determining the equivalence point and the volume of titration, providing stable results under consistent conditions without reliance on personal experience. Enhanced functions such as sample weighing and continuous measurement of multiple samples allow for efficient analysis of a large volume of samples.
Uses of Automatic Potentiometric Titrators
Automatic potentiometric titrators are utilized in various titrations, including neutralization, chelating (metal complex), precipitation, and oxidation-reduction titrations, to provide labor-saving, efficient, and accurate automation in quality control, inspection, and testing processes.
1. Neutralization Titration
Used for quality control in food and beverages, including fruit juice, sake, wine, and shochu, and for the neutralization testing of petroleum products and lubricating oils.
2. Chelatometric Titration
Applied in metal industries and for measuring water hardness through metal coordination.
3. Precipitation Titration
Utilized for salinity measurement in foods and chloride determination in peritoneal dialysate.
4. Redox Titration
Important for measuring COD as an indicator of water pollution and determining vitamin C content in foods.
5. Analysis and Titration of Plating Solutions
Critical in surface treatment (plating) for detecting metal ions in plating solutions and cyanide in cyanide baths, as well as chloride in nickel plating solutions. Also used for determining metal ions in chromium and tin plating solutions, and for detecting alkalinity, carbonate, sulfate, and boric acid in neutralization titration, supporting the development of new materials and energy-saving technologies.
Principles of Automatic Potentiometric Titrators
The analytical method of titration involves adding a standard solution to a target component’s solution for quantification and calculating the target component’s amount based on the chemical reaction. Unlike manual titrators that use indicators, automatic potentiometric titrators employ electrochemical sensors (electrodes) like glass, platinum, and silver, chosen based on the titration method, including potentiometric, luminometric, polarization, and coulometric titrations.
1. Potentiometric Titration
This method observes potential difference changes between two sensors in a solution, determining the equivalence point when no potential difference is observed, indicating equal pH levels.
2. Other Methods
Photometric titration measures color changes by indicators; polarization titration assesses current change during titration, and coulometric titration determines the equivalence point by the amount of current based on Faraday’s law.
Types of Automatic Potentiometric Titrators
Available automatic potentiometric titrators vary by type of analysis and measurement principle. Some models include a Karl Fischer moisture titrator for simultaneous moisture content measurement. Models designed for specific analyses, such as wine component analysis, can measure multiple parameters simultaneously.