Hand refractometer RE1005 0-32% (RZT)

Model RE1005:

• ATC range: 10°C – 30°C.
• Range: 0-32% Brix/ATC (10°C – 30°C)
• Accuracy: 0,2%

Eminently suitable for checking the quality of fruit, jams, vegetables, tomatoes, sugar beet, canned food etc. in the field or the factory.

Refractometers are devices that measure the concentration of watery solutions (see Brix scale) by measuring the refraction index (see Refraction principle). By placing a few drops on the prism, the value of the dissolved solid concentration can be immediately read from the refractometer scale. Thanks to its versatility and small size, the refractometers can be used in many different applications.

General characteristics of refractometers are their high sensitivity to temperature changes. This is the reason why the casing has a rubber grip, which ensures that the hand (temperature) of the user has no influence on the measurements. The rubber of the ocular protects the device against incoming light while measuring.

Brix Scale (%)

The Brix scale measures the concentration percentage of a dissolved solid in a substance (aqueous solution), for example the amount of all solids dissolved in water (sugar, salt, proteins, acids, etc.); the Brix scale measures their amount in the sample. Actually, the Brix scale is verified on the amount of grams of regular sugar in a 100 gram solution. When a solution on a base of sugar is measured, a real concentration is calculated. When your measure a solution that also contains other elements rather than just sugar, a conversion table is needed to correct the measured value and to be certain that the value has been measured properly.

Refraction principle

An example of how the refraction index changes depending on the liquid can easily be explained; by dipping a pen into a sample with just water and, then into a sample with water and dissolved sugar. When the pen is dipped in the sample with just water, it is slightly curved. When the pen is dipped into the sample with dissolved sugar, it is more curved (illustration 2). This phenomenon is called light refraction.