Why switch from manual to auto titration technology in your lab?

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First let's understand about Titration technology - what is this all about including its principal of operation.

It is the procedure through which quantity of the material under test is determined by adding an aliquot of titrant(chemical) until the entire substance undergoes with some sort of reaction either it gets completely neutralized, complexified or precipitated completely. The sensor/detector that is being used, called an electrode which measures potential difference without disturbing the thermodynamic equilibrium. The concentration of unknown is measured against another chemical with its known strength.

Ca = CtVtM/Va Ca: Stands for concentration of sample

Ct: Concentration of Titrant

Vt: Volume of titrant consumed

Va: Volume of Sample

M : Units of measurement, could be molarity, ppm mg/l w/w etc.

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There are four different types of most common Titrations in Labs.

a) Acid Base : This type of titration is for acid/base irrespective whether it is in aqueous or non aqueous samples(organic ones). pH electrode is being used as end point indicator

(Typical acid/base titration graph)

b) Precipitation : Mostly this is used for halides determination by titrating sample containing halides against Silver nitrate as titrant. Mostly chemists use Silver electrode to determine end point and it happens once entire halide in sample gets precipitated with Silver Nitrate.

c) Complexometric : Some chemists also call it as EDTA based titration where the titrant is EDTA and samples containing Ca++, Mg+ or for total hardness as well. Sensor employed here is Calcium electrode.

d) Redox Type: This involves measurement of reducing or oxidizing of sample by adding specific titrant which c

an be classified as reducing or oxidizing agent. Redox electrode is used as indicator sensor.

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FAQ : Why go with auto titrator over manual titrators in labs?

Manual titration is still popular in industry due to its low cost, simplicity and have been in use over decades in laboratories across different market segments across the globe. If one is looking for low cost, reliability and reproducibility is not a matter of concern, chemists chose to go with manual titration in their lab. They just need to buy some glassware, indicator solutions, manual calculations at the end of the test performed.

Manual titration is totally dependent on human factors to ensure the consistent and reproducible

results. Not only this, other factors like standardization, cleaning , sample prep, transcript etc plays an important role too.

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Why go with Automation in titration technology? There are so many advantages and current trend tells us that industries, research & development, QCs are moving to automation inspire of higher cost of auto titrators mainly due to following reasons:-

1) Improved accuracy and reproducibility: Automatic Titrators are using highly precise dispensing pumps built in their system which can dispense reagent with not only reproducibility but one can dispense extremally low end volume to the extent of 0.001 ml means as low as 1 ul. Due to such unique features, one can achieve accurate, reproducible, reliable and self determine end points.

2) Cost of ownership: Initial cost of buying a titrator is a factor but if one looks at long term use and its cost of ownership, one can save cost of expensive chemicals due to controlling dispense criteria of titrant. In Long term use it offsets its initial high cost.

3) Human error : Almost taken off this as because in case of auto titrator end point is not done with color indicators, it is using electrode/sensor which will determine end point automatically irrespective of chemist/operator.

4) Gain valued time: Automated titration allows the technician to accomplish more tasks by freeing them from routine and time consuming manual titration. During titration in progress, he can do other work in the lab. Even with autosamplers one can increase high through put too.

5) Transcript/ Data storage: It is becoming very important due to industry standards, one has to get results in different units example v/v w/v, % w/w, mg/l, g/l/oz/gal and more, auto titrators come with built in software to give you results of your choice. You can also store data, transfer data electronically or store the results in system as well as transfer the data to USB or to your local compute via RS 232.

A synopsis behind titration technique:-

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