Sugar Laboratory Equipment

An automatic polarimeter's specifications include its measuring range (typically ±90° optical rotation and ±259° Z for sugar), minimum reading (0.001°), accuracy (e.g., ±0.01° or better), and repeatability (e.g., 0.002°). It uses a consistent light source like an LED at a specific wavelength (e.g., 589.3 nm) and often features Peltier temperature control for sample stability, a user-friendly LCD or touchscreen display, and multiple measurement modes like optical rotation, specific rotation, concentration, and sugar degree.  

A spectrometer is a device for measuring wavelengths of light over a wide range of the electromagnetic spectrum. It is widely used for spectroscopic analysis of sample materials. The incident light from the light source can be transmitted, absorbed or reflected through the sample.

Spectrophotometer specifications define its performance capabilities and components, including wavelength range (e.g., 190–1100 nm for UV-Vis), photometric range (Absorbance: -4 to +4.0 Abs), photometric accuracy (e.g., ±0.0015 Abs), wavelength accuracy (e.g., ±0.05 nm), spectral bandwidth (e.g., 1 nm or better), light source (tungsten and deuterium lamps), optics (e.g., double-beam, holographic grating), detector (e.g., silicon photodiode), and data connectivity (USB ports). Other key specs involve stray light, noise level, baseline stability, and on-board features like LCD displays, software, and hardware validation.

A traditional handheld refractometer is an analog instrument for measuring a liquid's refractive index. It works on the critical angle principle by which lenses and prisms project a shadow line onto a small glass reticle inside the instrument, which is then viewed by the user through a magnifying eyepiece.

However, bench and handheld refractometers are usually used for more pragmatic purposes, usually to measure the concentration of a dissolved substance. The simplest and most popular use of a bench or handheld refractometer is in measuring the concentration of sugar in water.

Hot plate specifications include body material (mild steel, stainless steel), top plate material (cast iron, stainless steel, glass ceramic), power rating (e.g., 600 W to 4 kW), voltage (e.g., 220 V AC), temperature range (e.g., up to 300–750°C), and control methods (energy regulator, PID controller, thermostat). Key features often include stirring capability (in magnetic stirrers), temperature accuracy, chemical resistance, programmable controls, and safety measures like overload protection.

pH meter specifications include a pH and mV measuring range (e.g., 0–14 pH, ±1999 mV), resolution (e.g., 0.01 pH), and accuracy (e.g., ±0.05 pH) for both pH and temperature. Other key specs are the temperature compensation method (auto or manual), calibration capabilities (e.g., 2- or 3-point), display type (LCD/LED), electrode connector type (BNC), power source, and warranty.  

A polarimeter measures the direction and extent of the polarisation plane rotation. Depending on the type of instrument, the analyser is rotated manually or automatically until the maximum intensity of the light falls on the detector.

Polarimetry is used to analyze chiral substances and determine their concentration in solutions. It is applied in quality control, laboratory analytics, as well as in R&D in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, chemical, food, and medical industries.

Refractometer measures the degree to which light changes direction, called the angle of refraction. A refractometer takes the refraction angles and correlates them to refractive index (nD) values that have been established. Using these values, you can determine the concentrations of solutions.