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From www.feedforward.com.au – The world best practice plant and equipment maintenance site.
Using pH meters.
ABSTRACT The measuring electrode is sintered glass or ceramic and
Using pH meters. A pH meter is used to determine if a contained within it there is a solution of known pH
liquid is acidic or alkaline. It is important to know if a concentration. The sintered glass allows migration of the H+.
chemical is corrosive to human tissue and engineering When the probe is immersed into a chemical to take a
materials so that appropriate protection can be provided. measurement, the H+ ions in the chemical alter the H+
The pH is the measure of the amount of free H+ ions in a concentration in the glass around the internal solution of the
solution. The measure of pH ranges from 0 at the acid end to electrode and a change in voltage occurs. This voltage is
14 the base end. Each full division is ten times stronger than amplified, then compared to the reference electrode voltage.
the previous division (a logarithmic scale). Keywords: It is temperature compensated and finally displayed as a pH
reference electrode, neutral, hydrogen ion. value on the instrument’s read-out.
The chemical make-up of acids includes hydrogen (e.g. A second electrode, the reference electrode, is needed to
sulphuric acid - H2SO4, and acetic acid (vinegar) - compare the effect of the chemical being measured with a
CH3COOH). In the case of a base its chemical make-up known and unchanging solution. Within the reference
includes the hydroxyl ion, OH-. Sodium Hydroxide (caustic electrode there are chambers of other solutions that interact
soda – NaOH) is an example. When in solution (dissolved) to maintain a constant steady voltage. This is compared to
the molecules of an acid or a base dissociate (disunite) into a the voltage from the measuring electrode. To insure an
mixture of its component groups and the complete molecule. electrical circuit is maintained between the measuring
The components are electrically charged ions. They are electrode and the reference electrode, a wetted wooden plug
unstable and want to bond chemically to become stable. forms a ‘liquid junction’ between the reference electrode’s
outer surface and the internal chambers of reference liquid.
pH – WHAT IS IT?
The mid-point of the pH scale is at 7 and represents neutral A third sensing element is required to provide temperature
distilled water, which is neither an acid nor a base. A strong compensation. The pH reading accuracy is changed as the
solution of a strong acid would measure zero and a strong temperature of the electrode changes. In order to provide a
solution of a strong base would measure 14. This makes the true pH reading the temperature effect needs to be corrected.
pH scale only useful for measuring dilute solutions of strong FACTORS AFFECTING pH MEASUREMENT
acids and bases or for solutions of weak acids and bases. For accurate results there are two categories of issues to be
Sulphuric acid is a ‘strong acid’ whereas vinegar is a ‘weak addressed when using pH meters – the chemical process
acid’. In weak acids the hydrogen atom is mainly bound to variables and the pH probe requirements.
the other component atoms to make a molecule and only a The process variables to be considered include -
few hydrogen ions are free to move about the solution in the • the retention or hold-up time needed for chemical
electrically charged H+ form. In strong acids there are large interactions within the process to come to completion,
numbers of free hydrogen ions available to react. • the transfer time needed for the dosing system to add the
A 5% solution of vinegar can be drank safely but drinking a neutralising agent when required,
5% solution of sulphuric acid would be a disaster. The • the measurement lag time between the process
available quantity of free hydrogen ions makes the acids chemical’s change in pH and the probe’s detection of
react differently and that is reflected by the pH. the change,
• the process mixing rate and amount of agitation
Sodium Hydroxide or caustic soda, NaOH, is an example of
available to properly mix the chemical being measured
a ‘strong base’. In a sodium hydroxide solution there are
so a pH measurement reflects the bulk chemical’s pH,
numerous reactive OH- ions available and that makes it a
• the chemical and physical properties of the process
very dangerous chemical. In the case of a base pH measures
which can affect the measurement quality, such as
the absence of the H+ ion.
corrosion, erosion, sediment, caking, etc on the probe.
pH MEASUREMENT
The pH probe requirements to provide accuracy include –
The most popular industrial method to measure pH is with an
electrode that generates a voltage directly related to the H+ • time for pH to stabilise without rapid changes,
concentration when placed into the process chemical. Figure • stable temperature without extremes,
No. 1 is a simplified drawing of a pH probe. • clean electrode surfaces,
1" MNPT
1" WRENCH • full probe contact with the liquid being measured,
TEMP COMP
• sufficient conductivity through the process chemical,
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