Want to use a PH tester? Read this guide first

pH value is a significant parameter in almost every water quality checking application, especially in crucial environments like the food processing industry. Professionals often use pH measurement and testing to produce products with well-defined features, prevent causing health problems that can make consumers sick, help meet the legal requirements that deal with it, keep costs down, keep profit margins, and more. Using a reliable pH tester to measure the acidity of a solution is a must-have, quick and accurate way.

Browse our wide selection of PH meter category with the highest quality.

What is a PH tester?

A pH tester is a device designed to measure the overall acidity or alkalinity of a liquid or solution. This electronic device operates like a volt meter and provides information about the electrical potential difference between a pH electrode and a reference electrode.

As a result, it displays the pH value of the solution and analyzes the solution to measure the hydrogen ion activity. pH is the unit of measurement that determines the degree of acidity or alkalinity.

Many manufacturers offer a wide choice of portable and laboratory pH tester for sale to suit all budgets and application requirements.

What is PH, And Why Do I Need To Measure it?

pH is an acronym for the power of hydrogen or potential of hydrogen, which is the concentration of the hydrogen ion in a solution.

It is a measure of its acidity or basicity. So, pH measures the amount of acidity or alkalinity and also the hydrogen ion activity in food or solution. It uses a numerical scale between 1 and 14, with 7 being neutral.

A Solution with a pH value of 1 is most acidic, and pH values above 7 are basic or alkaline.

• Neutral solution: pH = 7
• Acidic solution: pH < 7
• Basic solution: pH > 7

This factor can influence many parameters in almost all types of processes or production. Acidified foods feature a pH value less than or equal to 4.6. The proper pH of a canned food product can be essential to confirm its safety. It is very important that pH testing is done correctly and accurately.

PH meter Working Principle

A pH tester is a high impedance amplifier that operates like a voltmeter. It accurately measures the minimum electrode voltages when immersed in the solution under test and displays the values exactly in pH units on an analog or digital display. It measures the concentration of positively charged free hydrogen ions.

The pH tester consists of three parts: an internal electrode, a reference electrode, and a high input impedance meter.

Both of the electrodes dip into the solution. The internal electrode is a glass electrode probe that emits a small voltage and measures the number of hydrogen ions attracted to it. The reference probe is electrically neutral.

There is a buffer solution at a pH of 7 inside the probe. The charge difference, a small voltage between the reference buffer inside the probe and the sample solution, is displayed as a pH measurement on the meter.

The pH measurements are made by comparing the pH reading produced by a sample solution to that of a reference solution with determined pHs, such as buffers.

So, it is essential to calibrate the meter with proper buffer solutions before making any measurements. It is better to use at least two standard buffer solutions of known pH values (normally around 4 and 7) for calibration.

PH tester Parts

A pH tester consists of two basic elements :

A High Input Impedance Meter

It is the main body of the meter. The impedance meter contains the microchip used to process tiny electrode voltages and display measurements in pH units on display.

The Probe or The Combined Electrode

This part comprises two electrodes, including a measuring electrode (glass electrode) and a reference electrode, both submerged in the same solution. 

The probe is the consumable, sensitive, and most expensive part of the meter, which must be handled carefully. The measurement actually occurs in this part.

To measure pH value, the reference electrode must have a determined stable potential independent of the solution being measured.

1. Reference electrode: made of a reference element like silver/silver chloride, which is submerged in a determined electrolyte. This electrolyte must have contact with the measured solution, which mostly occurs with a porous ceramic junction. Also, it must contain a high concentration of ions which provides low electrical resistance and be steady over a wide temperature range.
2. The pH glass electrode: is available in various lengths and shapes suitable for most different applications. This electrode is a hydrogen ion-sensitive glass bulb and generates a millivolt output that alters with changes in the relative concentration of hydrogen ions inside and outside the bulb.

Thermometer Probe

pH is directly affected by the temperature of the solution. Some pH tester can measure the temperature of the measured solution and include it in the value that the meter displays. This function is known as ATC, or "Automatic Temperature Compensation."

What are The Types of PH meter?

Three main types of pH tester are available, each with its feature and applications:

Pen Testers

pH electrodes, also known as pen testers, are usually the cheapest and easiest to use a type of pH tester on the market. 

The pH tester, display, and electrode are placed in a glass pen-like container with a tip that is sensitive to hydrogen ions. 

The small size of the electrode meter makes it easy to transport and use anywhere. They are often used for pH testing in construction, hydroponics, food manufacturing, and pool maintenance industries.

Handheld Meters

Handheld pH tester are slightly larger and more heavy-duty than their pen tester. These meters normally have a more rugged design and are made of a handheld device for display and calibration features, as well as an electrode probe component that can be interchanged based on the pH measuring needs.

Handheld pH tester are ideal for field work use, aquaculture, agriculture, field studies, and water treatment industries. Also, the model is suitable for the food processor who needs pH readings for a HACCP / food safety plan.

Benchtop Meters

Benchtop pH tester are the largest type of meters and are often available in laboratories and professional industries. These are usually desk or wall-mounted. Benchtop meters have the highest degree of accuracy for measuring pH levels and are commonly used in food processing facilities, quality assurance, water testing, and environmental testing labs.

Why Monitor the PH of Water?

Measuring pH value is an important step in many water testing and purification processes. Because a change in the pH level of Water can change the behavior of chemicals in the Water, it affects the quality of products and consumer safety. 

Any pH changes can affect the products' taste, color, shelf life, stability, and acidity. If the pH of the drinking water is inadequate, corrosion in the distribution system happens, allowing damaging heavy metals to leach out. 

In the industrial environment, monitoring water pH helps prevent corrosion and damage to equipment. In addition, pH can affect plants and animals in natural environments.

Digital PH tester

A digital pH tester is an electronic instrument used to accurately measure and record the pH values of liquids. Measuring pH allows for determining the acidity or alkalinity of a substance in a liquid state.

The digital pH tester is made of a glass electrode connected to the end of a probe and attached to an electronic tool with a digital display. When the pH of a solution is measured with the probe, the digital pH tester displays an accurate reading in pH units.

Advantages

• Intuitive and easy-to-use
• Quick and reliable pH measurements
• High level of accuracy
• The best solution for sensitive applications like the food or pharmaceutical industries.
• Not affected by a human error like color blindness.
• Easy to clean
• Need less space to install
• Pocket size pH tester has reliable operation and low cost.

Applications

The pH tester is an essential part of science; it significantly impacts our lives. They may be used in many applications, from laboratory experimentation to quality assurance.

pH tester are widely used in the following areas:

• Environmental field-testing
• Food & beverages, especially dairy products like cheese, curds, yogurts, etc
• Cosmetics
• The agriculture industry for soil evaluation
• The chemical and pharmaceutical industries
• The production and inspection of detergents
• Water treatment plants and RO water purifiers
• Oil & gas
• Measurement of the pH of the plant
• Water quality
• Cooking oil
• Process industry
• Laboratories
• Fish farming
• Aquariums
• Cooling equipment