Hanna Instruments HI 96821 User manual

HI96821
Refractometer for Sodium
Chloride Measurements
INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Thank you for choosing a Hanna Instruments product.
Please read this instruction manual carefully before using
this instrument.
This manual will provide you with the necessary information
for correct use of this instrument, as well as a precise idea
of its versatility.
If you need additional technical information, do not hesitate
to e‑mail us at [email protected] or view our worldwide
contact list at www.hannainst.com.
Dear
Customer,
All rights are reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited
without the written consent of the copyright owner, Hanna Instruments
Inc., Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 02895, USA.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preliminary Examination .......................................................
General Description...............................................................
Specifications.......................................................................
Principle of Operation...........................................................
Functional Description...........................................................
Display Elements..................................................................
Measurement Guidelines .......................................................
Calibration Procedure............................................................
Measurement Procedure........................................................
To Change Measurement Unit................................................
To Change Temperature Unit .................................................
Making a Standard Sodium Chloride Solution.........................
Battery Replacement.............................................................
Error Messages.....................................................................
Accessories...........................................................................
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5
7
9
11
15
6
8
12
10
16
14
13
17
18

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Remove the instrument from the packing materials and examine carefully
to ensure no damage has occurred during shipping. If any damage has
occurred, contact your local Hanna Instruments Office.
Each HI96821 instrument is supplied with:
• 9 V battery
• Instruction manual
• Plastic pipette
• Quality Certificate
Note: Save all packing material until you are sure that the instrument
functions correctly. A defective instrument must be returned in its
original packing.
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

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The HI96821 Digital Refractometer is a rugged portable, water resistant
device that benefits from Hanna Instruments’ years of experience as a
manufacturer of analytical instruments.
The HI96821 is an optical instrument that employs the measurement of
the refractive index to determine sodium chloride concentration in aqueous
solutions used in food preparation. It is not intended for sea water salinity
measurements. The measurement of refractive index is simple and quick and
provides the user an accepted method for NaCl analysis. Samples are mea‑
sured after a simple user calibration with deionized or distilled water. Within
seconds the instrument measures the refractive index of the solution. The
digital refractometer eliminates the uncertainty associated with mechanical
refractometers and is easily portable for measurements where you need them.
Theinstrumentutilizesinternationallyrecognizedreferencesforunitconversion
and temperature compensation. It can display the measurement of NaCl con‑
centration4differentways:g/100g, g/100mL,SpecificGravityand°Baumé.
Temperature (in °C or °F) is displayed simultaneously with the measurement
on the large dual level display along with icons for Low Power and other
helpful message codes.
Key features include:
• Waterproof models offers IP65 waterproof protection
• Automatic Temperature Compensation (ATC)
• Battery operation with Low Power indicator (BEPS)
• Automatically turns off after 3 minutes of non‑use
GENERAL DESCRIPTION

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Range
g/100 g: 0.0 to 28.0
g/100 mL: 0.0 to 34.0
Specific Gravity: 1.000 to 1.216
˚Baumé: 0.0 to 26.0
˚C (˚F): 0.0 to 80.0 ˚C
(32.0 to 176.0 ˚F)
Resolution
g/100 g: 0.1
g/100 mL: 0.1
Specific Gravity: 0.001
˚Baumé: 0.1
˚C (˚F): 0.1 ˚C (0.1 ˚F)
Accuracy
g/100 g: ±0.2
g/100 mL: ±0.2
Specific Gravity: ±0.002
˚Baumé: ±0.2
˚C (˚F): ±0.3 ˚C (±0.5 ˚F)
Temperature Compensation Automatic between 10.0 and 40.0 °C
(50.0 ‑ 104.0 °F)
Measurement Time Approximately 1.5 seconds
Minimum Sample Volume 100 µL (cover prism totally)
Light Source Yellow LED
Sample Cell Stainless Steel ring and flint glass prism
Case Material ABS
Enclosure Rating IP65
Battery Type / Life 9V / 5000 readings
Auto‑Off After 3 minutes of non‑use
Dimensions 192 x 102 x 69 mm (7.6 x 4.1 x 2.7”)
Mass 350 g (12.3 oz)
SPECIFICATIONS

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PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
Aqueous NaCl determinations are made by measuring the refractive index of
a solution. Refractive Index is an optical characteristic of a substance and the
number of dissolved particles in it. Refractive Index is defined as the ratio of
the speed of light in empty space to the speed of light in the substance. A
result of this property is that light will “bend”, or change direction, when it
travelsthroughasubstanceofdifferentrefractiveindex.Thisiscalledrefraction.
When passing from a material with a higher to lower refractive index, there
is a critical angle at which an incoming beam of light can no longer refract,
but will instead be reflected off the interface.
The criticalangle canbe usedto easilycalculate therefractive indexaccording
to the equation:
sin (θcritical) = n2/ n1
Wheren2istherefractiveindexofthelower‑densitymedium;n1istherefractive
index of the higher‑density medium.
In the HI96821 refractometer, light from an LED passes through a prism in
contact with the sample. An image sensor determines the critical angle at
which the light is no longer refracted through the sample.
Specialized algorithms then apply temperature compensation to the
measurement and convert the refractive index to: g/100 g (% by mass),
g/100 mL, Specific Gravity (S.G. 20/20) or °Baumé.

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1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
2. Secondary Display
3. Primary Display
4. READ Key (User Measurement)
5. ZERO Key (User Calibration)
6. RANGE Key (User Measurement Unit)
7. ON/OFF
8. Stainless Steel Sample Well and Prism
TOP VIEW
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
9. Battery Cover
10. Battery Compartment
BOTTOM

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1. Battery (blinks when low battery condition detected)
2. Primary Display (displays measurement and error messages)
3. Measurement in Progress Tag
4. SETUP: Factory Calibration Tag
5. CAL: Calibration Tag
6. Measurement Units
7. Automatic Temperature Compensation
(blinks when temperature exceeds 10.0‑40.0 °C /50.0‑104.0 °F range)
8. Temperature Units
9. Secondary Display (displays temperature measurements; when blinking,
temperature has exceeded operation range: 0.0‑80.0 °C/32.0‑176.0 °F)
DISPLAY ELEMENTS

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• Handle instrument carefully. Do not drop.
• Do not immerse instrument under water.
• Do not spray water to any part of instrument except the “sample well”
located over the prism.
• The instrument is intended to measure sodium chloride solutions. Do not
expose instrument or prism to solvents that will damage it. This includes
most organic solvents and extremely hot or cold solutions.
• Particulate matter in a sample may scratch the prism. Absorb sample
with a soft tissue and rinse sample well with deionized or distilled water
between samples.
• Use plastic pipettes to transfer all solutions. Do not use metallic tools
such as needles, spoons or tweezers as these will scratch the prism.
• Cover sample well with hand if measuring in direct sun.
• To reduce the effects of evaporation or absorption of water when taking
readings over a period of time, the prism and sample well can be covered
with plastic wrap.
MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES

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2. Using a plastic pipette, fill the sample well with distilled or deionized
water. Make sure the prism is completely covered.
Note: If the ZERO sample is subject to intense light such as sunlight
or another strong source, cover the sample well with your hand or
other shade during the calibration.
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE
Calibration should be performed daily, before measurements are made, when
the battery has been replaced, between a long series of measurements, or
if environmental changes have occurred since the last calibration.
1. Press the ON/OFF key, then release. Two instrument test screens will
be displayed briefly; all LCD segments followed by the percentage of
remaining battery life. The meter will then briefly display an indication
of the measurement units set. When LCD displays dashes, the instrument
is ready.
3. Press the ZERO key. If no error messages appear, your unit is calibrated.
(For a description of ERROR MESSAGES see page 17).
Note: The 0.0 screen will remain until a sample is measured or the
power is turned off.
4. Gently absorb the ZERO water standard with a soft tissue. Use care not
to scratch the prism surface. Dry the surface completely. The instrument
is ready for sample measurement.
Note: If the instrument is turned off the calibration will not be lost.

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Verify the instrument has been calibrated before taking measurements.
1. Wipe off prism surface located at the bottom of the sample well. Make
sure the prism and sample well are completely dry.
4. Remove sample from the sample well by absorbing with a soft tissue.
5. Using a plastic pipette, rinse prism and sample well with distilled or
deionized water. Wipe dry. The instrument is ready for the next sample.
Note: The last measurement value will be displayed until the next
sample is measured or the instrument is turned off. Temperature
will be continuously updated.
The ATC tag blinks and automatic temperature compensation
is disabled if the temperature exceeds the 10.0-40.0 °C/
50.0-104.0 °F range.
3. Press the READ key. The result are displayed in unit of interest.
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE
2. Using a plastic pipette, drip sample onto the prism surface. Fill the well
completely.
Note: If the temperature of the sample differs significantly from
the temperature of the instrument, wait approximately 1 minute to
allow thermal equilibration.

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Press the RANGE key to select measurement units. The instrument toggles
between the four measurement scales each time the key is pressed and
the primary display indicates “G-G” for g/100 g, “G-L” for g/100 mL,
“S.G.” for Specific Gravity and “bAU” for °Baumé. When the instrument
displays the screen with 4 dashes, the instrument is ready for measurement.
TO CHANGE MEASUREMENT UNIT

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To change the temperature measurement unit from Celsius to Fahrenheit
(or vice versa), follow this procedure.
1. Press and hold the ON/OFF key continuously for approximately
8 seconds. The LCD will display the “all segment” screen followed by a
screen with the model number on the primary display and the version
number on the secondary display. Continue pressing the ON/OFF key.
2. While continuing to hold the ON/OFF key, press the ZERO key. The
temperature unit will change from °C to °F or vice versa.
8seconds
°C or °F
TO CHANGE TEMPERATURE UNIT

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•Place container (such as a glass vial or dropper bottle that has a cover)
on an analytical balance.
•Tare the balance.
•To make an X NaCl solution weigh out X grams of high purity dried
Sodium Chloride (CAS #: 7647‑14‑5: MW 58.44) directly into the
container.
•Add distilled or deionized water to the container so the total weight of
the solution is 100 g.
Example with g/100 g NaCl:
g/100 g NaCl g NaCl g Water g Total
10 10.000 90.000 100.000
To make a Standard NaCl Solution (g/100 g), follow the procedure on the
next page:
MAKING A STANDARD SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION

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To replace the instrument’s battery, follow these steps:
• Make sure the instrument is off.
• Turn instrument upside down and remove the battery cover by turning
it counterclockwise.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
• Extract the battery from its location.
• Replace with a new 9V battery making sure to observe polarity.
• Insert the back battery cover and fasten it by turning clockwise to
engage.

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ERROR MESSAGES
Error Code Description
“Err“ General failure. Cycle power to instrument.
If error persists, contact your local Hanna
Instruments Office.
“LO“ primary
display
Sample exceeds minimum measurement
range.
“HI“ primary
display
Sample exceeds maximum measurement
range.
“LO“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Wrong solution used to zero instrument.
Use deionized or distilled water. Press
ZERO.
“HI“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Wrong solution used to zero instrument.
Use deionized or distilled water. Press
ZERO.
“t LO“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Temperature exceeds ATC low limit
(10.0 °C) during calibration.
“t HI“ primary
display Cal
segment ON
Temperature exceeds ATC high limit
(40.0 °C) during calibration.
“Air“ Prism surface insufficiently covered.
“ELt“ Too much external light for measurement.
Cover sample well with hand.
“nLt“ LED light is not detected.
Contact your local Hanna Instruments
Office.
Battery segment
blinking
<5% of battery life is remaining.
Temperature values
are blinking
“0.0°C“or “80.0 °C“
Temperature measurement
out of range (0.0 to 80.0 °C).
ATC segment
blinking
Outside temperature
compensation range
(10.0 to 40.0 °C).
SETUP segment
blinking
Factory calibration lost.
Contact your local Hanna Instruments
Office.

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MAN96821 04/17
ACCESSORIES
Code Description
HI740157P Plastic refilling pipette (20 pcs.)
HI740029P 9V Battery (10 pcs.)

HI96821 is warranted for two years against defects in
workmanship and materials when used for their intended
purpose and maintained according to instructions.
This warranty is limited to repair or replacement free of
charge.
Damage due to accidents, misuse, tampering or lack of
prescribed maintenance is not covered.
If service is required, contact your local Hanna Instruments
Office. If under warranty, report the model number, date
of purchase, serial number and the nature of the problem.
If the repair is not covered by the warranty, you will be
notified of the charges incurred. If the instrument is to be
returned to Hanna Instruments, first obtain a Returned Goods
Authorization number from the Technical Service department
and then send it with shipping costs prepaid. When ship‑
ping any instrument, make sure it is properly packed for
complete protection.
To validate your warranty, fill out and return the enclosed
warranty card within 14 days from the date of purchase.
Warranty
Hanna Instruments reserves the right to modify the design, construction or
appearance of its products without advance notice.

Printed in ROMANIA
World
Headquarters
Hanna Instruments Inc.
Highland Industrial Park
584 Park East Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895 USA
www.hannainst.com
Local Office
Hanna Instruments USA
270 George Washington Highway
Smithfield, RI 02917
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e‑mail: [email protected]
MAN96821