The Mettler Toledo Refracto 30PX is a portable refractometer used for measuring liquids in a 10 to 40 degrees C temperature range using 22 measurement scales, such as refractive index (1.32 to 1.65nD or nDt), Brix%, alcohol determinations, isopropanol (IPA) determinations, salinity, wine, and antifreeze units, has automatic temperature compensation (ATC), a backlit LCD display, an elongated neck for dipping into samples, and a durable polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) plastic body. Handheld refractometers, also known as sugar meters, concentration meters, or Brix meters, are commonly used in the culinary, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, educational, geological, chemical, and ecological industries, and for water-testing applications.

This refractometer has a glass prism in a stainless steel sample well. A digital LCD displays the reading from three to 180 seconds after the start button is pressed, and the unit uses an LED (589.3nm) light source. Using an infrared interface, stored measurements and data can be printed or transferred to a computer. An infrared converter (sold separately), and a computer or printer with an IrDA (Infrared Data Association) interface is required.

The Refracto 30PX features ATC for immediate readings, using either internally-stored tables or one of 10 possible temperature-compensation coefficients. The unit is factory-calibrated (calibration certificate not included) and can be calibrated with distilled water. The unit comes with a protective plastic storage case with a foam cut-out insert to cushion the instrument. In addition, the unit comes with two low-density polyethylene (LDPE) pipettes, two AAA batteries, five cleaning tissues for cleaning the measuring cell and housing, two polyethylene (PE) vials with screw cap, data transfer software, and instructions.

Specifications

Measurement scale range Refractive index nD 1.32 to 1.50, Brix 0 to 85% Specimen measurement temperature range 10 to 40 degrees C Accuracy Refractive index nD + or- 0.0005, + or - 0.2 Brix%, Temperature + or - 0.2 Resolution Refractive index nD 0.0001, 0.1 Brix%, Temperature 0.1 degrees C Ambient temperature for unit operation -20 to 70 degrees C Light source LED 589.3nm Sample volume 0.5ml Measurement time 3 to 180 seconds Body type PBT plastic Power supply Two AAA batteries (included) Data communication interface Infrared Dimensions 18.5 x 6 x 5.5cm (H x W x D) Weight 250g Warranty One year

H is height, the vertical distance from the lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.

Refractometers are used to determine substance content in a sample, to provide unit readings of substances including Brix, salinity, and alcohol; to detect chemical impurities, or to measure components of samples such as industrial fluid. Refractometers measure the refractive index of a substance, which is its optical characteristic, and the number of dissolved particles in it. The refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in empty space to the speed of light in a substance; when light passes from one medium to another. Generally, a low concentration sample has a larger angle of refraction than a high concentration sample. For example, a straw placed in a high-concentration substance appears more bent than when placed in a low-concentration substance. Refractometers can work with natural light, or with an external power source such as batteries or electricity. They typically have either a digital or analog reading display, though some units utilize both types. Some analog-display refractometers can be used for both solids and liquids. Digital-display refractometers are used exclusively for liquids. Types of refractometers include handheld, benchtop, and in-process. Handheld refractometers are elongated and telescope-shaped, or shorter and rectangular. Analog handheld refractometer readings are obtained by looking through the monocular eyepiece and viewing where the boundary line intersects with the memory line. Digital handheld models provide a digital readout. Benchtop refractometers typically measure with a higher degree of accuracy than handheld units. In-process refractometers are used for continuous process monitoring and data readouts, and are generally fitted into a piping system for ongoing analysis. Refractometers are used in a wide variety of applications in the culinary, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, educational, geological, chemical, ecological, and automotive industries, and for water-testing applications.

Mettler-Toledo manufactures precision instruments for use in research, scientific, and quality control labs for the pharmaceutical, chemical, food, and cosmetics industries. The company, founded in 1989, is headquartered in Switzerland.

What’s in the Box?

Refracto 30PX refractometer
Plastic carrying case
AAA batteries (LRO3, 1.5 V) (2)
Cleaning tissues (5)
Pipettes (LD-PE) (2)
Vials with screw cap (PE) (2)
HelloCD (CD-ROM), part # 51325001
Instructions