Inline Refractometers for Quality Control and Monitoring in the Pharmaceutical, Food & Beverage, and Chemical Industries

The Inline Process Refractometer is a measurement device used to determine concentration levels in the process media. The combined hardware and software continuously monitor the process in real-time and provide output signals that assist in monitoring and controlling the process.

Inline Process Refractometers accurately measure solids concentration, density, and purity levels. Industries such as sugar, food & beverage, chemical, paper, and pharmaceuticals commonly apply refractometers to their manufacturing processes.

Refractometers measure the amount of light that passes through a sample and then measure its refractive index to determine its concentration or composition. Their primary uses are quality control, product development, process optimization, and research. 

Pharmaceutical Industry

The process refractometer is used in pharmaceutical industries to measure the concentration of solids in a solution for quality control, such as checking the purity of water or other liquids. They are used to measure the makeup of solutions containing active ingredients to ensure that they meet predetermined specifications.

Food and Beverage Industry

Industrial refractometers provide a variety of benefits in the food industry. Since the primary function of an Inline Process Refractometer is to measure the concentration of dissolved solids in a liquid, in food processing, they measure sugar content, alcohol content, or water concentration by calibration to measure some specific solute or solutes. These solutes can be either sugars or salts, depending on the application.   Companies use Inline process refractometers to produce fruit juices, tomato products, dairy products, sweeteners, jams, and jellies, to determine the sugar content.

Chemical Industry

The chemical industry uses Inline Process Refractometers for the chemical analysis of liquids. They determine the magnitude of dissolved solids in a liquid solution by measuring the angle at which light passes through, assisting in deciding concentrations, and identifying chemical compounds.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

In-line Process Refractometer Applications

Food and Beverage 

Sanitary refractometers from Electron Machine provide precise in-line Brix, total solids, density, Plato,  and concentration readings in applications involving processing liquid foods and beverages in filling lines and waste stream management. 

Chemical Manufacturing

Even in the most demanding, hazardous conditions, Electron Machine's Process Refractometers deliver precise and dependable liquid concentration and density readings of any chemicals or compounds in the central processing lines, by-pass lines, or containers. 

Sweeteners, Jams, Jellies, Sugar Alternatives, Sugar 

Process refractometers from Electron Machine provide precise and trustworthy Brix readings. Supersaturation concentration control, total fructose, and glucose concentration during separation, and Brix 

Paper & Pulp Processing

Electron Machine's process refractometers provide black and green liquor solids content and density readings in the kraft chemical (sulfate) and chemical-mechanical pulp manufacturing processes. Refractometers assist the brown stock washing procedure in the fiber line optimization by using measurements of fiber suspensions' dissolved solids content (TDS).

Refining of Oil, Gas, and Petrochemicals 

Electron Machine process refractometers offer precise in-line measurements of refractive index, concentration, and density to improve processes such as alkylation, gas treatment, dehydration, and oil production.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

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Inline Process Refractometers for Industry

Refractometry is the ideal method for efficiently, reliably, and accurately determining substance concentration, identification, or purity. Inline process refractometers are especially helpful as they supplement laboratory research and contribute to product improvement. These process analyzers deliver results within fractions of a second, allowing real-time monitoring and automatic control of processes.

Process refractometers offer the end-user a tool that can be relied upon consistently. They provide a consistent final product, which is essential for various reasons that vary depending on the business that utilizes this equipment. In the pulp and paper industry, managing the process to their desired level enables them to enhance and simplify the whole Kraft process, allowing them to operate at optimum energy efficiency, which is essential given the competitive global market. 

The same applies to chemical, food, dairy, and sugar-producing businesses. However, quality control is very crucial. Creating and sustaining brand loyalty is vital, and quality control guarantees quality. Product uniformity each time your client's purchase will help you earn and maintain market share. Not to mention saving money via waste reduction.

The benefits of using inline refractometers are apparent. Manual sampling and laboratory analysis are time-consuming and labor-intensive, making them less efficient and reproducible. The inline process refractometer is the more efficient and dependable option. These instruments provide real-time, inline continuous concentration monitoring and cross-contamination prevention. Furthermore, operators may utilize their time to do other vital tasks, allowing for further time savings and quality improvements.

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

Inline Process Refractometers in Sugar Cane Processing

Sugar refining is a high-energy-intensive process that involves many processing stages to eliminate impurities from raw juice. The correct process management tools assist in increased output while lowering production costs. Additionally, sugar production, in general, uses a lot of water. Using advanced technological equipment, such as Electron Machine's Process Refractometer, water, and energy consumption during production may substantially decrease, increasing the mill's efficiency and sustainability.

For the optimum product quantity and quality, consumable sugar manufacturers need tight process control and fast, precise Brix measurements of raw and in-process liquids. The ultimate aim of crystal sugar production is to generate as many uniformly high-quality crystals as possible while avoiding fines and conglomerates. Only the best liquid and crystal sugars are acceptable.

Sugar cane processing needs to happen within a specific time frame after harvesting to minimize sugar loss due to glucose and fructose conversion. Milling and processing, the conventional two-stage process, may be merged in a single modernized manufacturing plant. In both procedures, process refractometers make optical measurements of a solution's refractive index, used to calculate the concentration of dissolved solids. 

Refractometers are used in the cane sugar refining and milling operations to offer precise inline Brix and other readings to obtain high-quality liquid and crystal sugars while reducing production costs.

Inline process refractometers applications in sugar cane processing:

• Product flow is adapted to evaporator capacity to save energy. 
• Extraction process optimization, reducing the amount of water at the evaporator. 
• Feed juice control in the separation column to modify concentration to meet capacity. 
• Check for quality assurance on liquid bulk sugar and molasses. 
• Automatic and precise seeding in a vacuum pan. 
• Supersaturation monitoring during the whole strike of crystallization.

For more information contact:

Electron Machine Corporation
https://electronmachine.com
+1 352-669-3101

Inline Process Refractometer in Large Scale Juice Concentrate Production

Fruit juice concentration enables companies to transport their goods more efficiently and extend their shelf life. Concentration manufacturing begins with a dilute feedstock juice and concentrates it by removing water. Water removal occurs using special equipment created specifically for the concentration process. Almost every fruit that is commercially harvested can be juiced or concentrated. 

While extracting fruit juice varies according to the form, size, and nature of the fruit, the steps are the same; juice extraction, filtering, and storage in main holding tanks before being supplied to an evaporator. When juice enters the evaporator, its concentration varies due to various natural variables. The objective of the concentration process is to eliminate this fluctuation and produce a uniform, consistent juice concentrate. Throughout the concentration process of fruit juice, solid components of the original fluid remain and get measured as a percentage of the liquid volume. 

Refractometers are precision instruments that determines the refractive index, or how much a light beam is "bent" when it travels through fruit juice. The angle of light bending is proportional to the concentration of solids. Sugars account for the majority of the soluble solids in fruit juice, along with other soluble components such as organic and amino acids, soluble pectins, and so on. 

On a larger scale, soluble solids concentration (SSC percent, degrees Brix) in juice production facilities is determined by strategically placing inline process refractometers throughout the process to monitor solids concentration and evaluate equipment performance and product quality. The output signals from the refractometers are used as inputs to the evaporators' command and control system, allowing feed rate to be closely matched to evaporation rate and maximizing the efficiency of the energy-consuming equipment. 

To learn more about the function of inline process refractometers in the manufacture of fruit and vegetable juice concentrates, contact Electron Machine Corporation at 352-669-3101 or visit their website at https://electronmachine.com.

The MPR E-Scan™

The MPR E-Scan™ is a rugged, industrialized, in-line process refractometer. It directly measures the refractive index of process fluids and then displays the reading in any number of customer-desired units (Brix, Percent Solids, Dissolved Solids, SGU, R.I., etc.). This reading may be used as an error indicator or part of a complete process control system. A high-resolution color display and a 4-20mA output is standard. HART® protocol, RS-232, and RS-422 outputs are available. Each sensing head is custom tailored and calibrated specifically for the desired process application to ensure the most accurate and useful reading. A simple 0-10Vdc signal is used to transmit the reading from the sensing head to the electronics console, ensuring a robust reading that has a minimal chance of being effected by interference. The entire package is NEMA 4X rated and designed and manufactured with the best materials for each application to provide years of trouble-free service with a minimum amount of maintenance.

Learn more at https://electronmachine.com or call 352-669-3101.