One of the most important quality control methods used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, cosmetics, food and beverage industry is polarimetry – optically active substances are analysed by determining their angle of rotation. The angle of rotation allows you to ascertain the identity and quality of substances as well as their concentration in mixtures. It can also indicate the progress of reactions and conversions. Polarimeters are used in a wide range of applications, from the determination of the purity and concentration of ingredients in pharmaceuticals to the maturity testing of agricultural products to the measurement of the sugar content in beverages and candies.
In order to achieve a high measurement accuracy, the sample temperature must be accurately controlled since the optical activity of substances depends on the temperature. In addition, polarimeters must meet the increasing requirements on process efficiency and not only perform reliable and fast measurements but must also be easy to handle and allow for an automatic operation.
Polarimeter Fields of application and standards
Typical applications | Analysed substances | Special requirements | Standards | Recommended polarimeters: |
---|---|---|---|---|
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY | ||||
Determination of the concentration of sugar as an ingredient of pharmaceutical agents Purity control and content determination Determination of the stereochemical composition and mutarotation Characterisation of new synthetic substances |
Sugar, amino acids and proteins, blood sera, vitamins, steroids, antibiotics, hormones, painkillers, amphetamines etc. | Precision, Compliance with standards |
Pharmacopoeias (USP, BP, JP, Ph. Eur.), GLP |
P8000-T, P8000-P |
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY | ||||
Purity control and concentration determination Monitoring of chemical processes during the production of optically active substances characterisation tests in research laboratories Reaction kinetic analyses |
Biopolymers, synthetic polymers, glycerinaldehydes, various hydrocarbons etc. | Accurate temperature control at different temperatures, variability of the measurement methods, option of interval measurements | AOAC, OIML, ASTM, |
P8000-T, P8000-P |
FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY | ||||
Characterisation, quality and purity control of raw materials and end products Determination of the sugar concentration in beverages and candies Routine analysis with high sample throughput |
Sugar, lactic acid, starch (polysaccharide) in food and feed, aromas, lactose in milk, glucose in wine, sugar composition in honey etc. | Fast measurement with easy handling, robust, acid-resistant easurement tubes | AOAC, OIML, ASTM, |
P8000-T, P8000-TF |
SUGAR INDUSTRY | ||||
Determination of the sugar concentration in raw materials, preliminary, intermediate and end products Monitoring of chemical processes, e.g. during the manufacture of invert sugar Purity control |
sugar cane, beet pulp, molasses, refined sugar, syrup, invert sugar etc. | Availability of the international sugar scale, no need for maintenance | ICUMSA, | P8000, P3000 |
MANUFACTURERS OF AROMAS, FRAGRANCES AND ESSENTIAL OILS | ||||
Qualitätskontrolle von Roh- und Hilfsstoffen, Quality control of raw materials and additives Monitoring of the production of intermediate and end products |
Essential oils such as orange, lavender, lime and pepper mint oil, glyceric acid, aromas and perfumes for the food and cosmetics industry etc. | High resistance to chemicals, availability of micro-cuvettes | Ph. Eur., AOAC, OIML, |
P8000-TF |
HOSPITALS AND PHARMACIES | ||||
Incoming/outgoing goods inspection Control of pharmaceutical products according to pharmacopoeias |
Pharmaceutical agents as well as raw materials and additives | Robustness, easy handling, low price | Pharmacopoeias (USP, BP, JP, Ph. Eur.), GLP |
P1000-LED, P3000 |
TRAINING IN THE INDUSTRY OR AT UNIVERSITIES | ||||
Kinetics of the cane sugar inversion Mutarotation of glucose Determination of the concentration of polysaccharides through amylolysis |
– | Easy handling, low price | P1000-LED, P3000 |