Atago 2481 MASTER-S28 (Alpha) Hand-Held Salinity Refractometer, Automatic Temperature Compensation, Brix 0.0 to 28.0%

The Atago 2481 MASTER-S28α (alpha) is a handheld, portable, water-resistant refractometer with a salinity scale that measures in the 0.0 to 20.0% range, has automatic temperature compensation (ATC), and is housed in an Ingress-Protection (IP)-65 rated Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) plastic body. A salinity refractometer measures the refractive index of a solution in a sample, converts it to seawater concentration in units of percent by weight (% salinity, also known as degrees salinity), and displays the results. Handheld refractometers, sometimes known as salinity meters, or concentration meters are commonly used in the culinary, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, educational, geological, chemical, and ecological industries, and for water-testing applications.

This refractometer is housed in a durable PBT plastic body for use with salinity and acidic samples. Its body is IP-65 rated (excluding the eyepiece) for protection against dust and water jets, and the unit can be cleaned with running water under a faucet. The 2481 MASTER-S28α features ATC for immediate, accurate readings, regardless of ambient temperature. Calibration can be controlled and adjusted with an exposed calibration screw and an included specialized screwdriver, although other items can be used to unscrew the unit. However, the unit retains its water-resistance. A spoon-shaped tip allows for automatic sample distribution (ASD) across the prism and boundary line (also called measurement line) for accurate, smooth sampling with small portions. The outer shell grip is ridged for gripping, and easy to clean, which reduces the possibility of food and sample entrapment, avoiding contamination and bacterial growth. The analog salinity scale features a bright, high-contrast display for clear visibility of the boundary and memory lines intersection. Samples are viewed through a monocular, focusable, cushioned eyepiece. The unit includes a protective plastic storage case with a foam cut-out insert to cushion the instrument.

Specifications

 

*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.

Atago Co., Ltd. manufactures analytical instruments such as refractometers, polarimeters, and saccharimeters, as well as a variety of meters. The company, founded in 1940 and headquartered in Tokyo, offers products that comply with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) system standards, and many International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.

What’s in the Box?

• 2481 MASTER-S28α refractometer
• Calibration screwdriver
• Plastic storage case
• Instructions