palintest Ammonia Duo User manual

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Index
1GENERAL INFORMATION .............................................. 3
Introduction to Palintest Photometers......................... 3
Kit Contents ............................................................. 4
Instrument Layout .................................................... 6
2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...................................... 7
Introduction to Colorimetric Measurement .................. 7
Blanks and Samples .................................................. 9
Taking a Reading...................................................... 9
Care and Maintenance ............................................ 10
Viewing the Instrument Memory .............................. 11
Backlight Operation ................................................ 11
3 TEST PROCEDURES ..................................................... 12
To Select the Test .................................................. 12
To use the adaptor ................................................. 13
Ammonia ............................................................... 14
4 INSTRUMENT .............................................................. 20
Replacing the Batteries ........................................... 20
Liability.................................................................. 20
Error Messages....................................................... 21
Technical Specification ............................................ 22
Cleaning the Optics................................................. 23
Servicing and Warranty ........................................... 23
5TROUBLESHOOTING ................................................... 24
Compliance ............................................................ 25
6 REORDER CODES & ACCESSORIES ............................. 26
INST.48

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1 GENERAL INFORMATION
Introduction to Palintest Photometers
Thank you for purchasing this Palintest product.
Palintest instruments and reagents are renowned as
being simple to use, whilst providing rapid and reliable
results for the testing of water. Our instruments are of
the highest quality and fully waterproof.
Palintest’s experience, built-up over the last 50 years,
is the reason why our instruments and reagents are
used in laboratories, treatment plants, leisure facilities
and industrial premises throughout the world.
Our products are packaged carefully and the product
should reach you in the state it left our factory; if this
product has reached you in a state that is less than
satisfactory, please contact the transportation company.
This booklet describes the best way to use Palintest
products, and provides instructions for the range of water
tests that can be performed using this instrument.
Palintest instruments are calibrated for Palintest
reagents. To guarantee the high accuracy and
performance that our instruments give, you
must ensure that only Palintest reagents are
used with Palintest instruments. Failure to do
so can lead to erroneous results.

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Kit Contents
These instructions are designed for use with the
following instruments :-
Compact Ammonia + Meter
Compact Ammonia Duo Meter
The kits contain :-
Compact Ammonia +
Compact Ammonia + Meter
Instructions
16 mm Cuvette Adaptor
Reagents
None

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Compact Ammonia Duo
Compact Ammonia Duo Meter
Instructions
16mm Cuvette Adapter
Crushing Rods
Test Cuvette Brush
Photometer Cuvettes
Reagents
Ammonia No. 1 Tablet (Indophenol)
Ammonia No. 2 Tablet (Indophenol)
For re-ordering reagents and accessories, please see
Section 6.

6
Test Cuvette
holder
Instrument Layout
Screen
‘Menu’ Button
‘Blank Sample’
Button
‘On/Off’ Button
‘Read Sample’
Button

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2 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Introduction to Colorimetric Measurement
Palintest tests are based on measuring the intensity of
colours produced by Palintest reagents and using
Palintest photometers to measure that intensity of
colour. This is colorimetry and can be defined as any
technique used to evaluate an unknown colour in
reference to known colours.
To avoid subjective measurement between test samples
and colour standards, a colorimeter can be used for
quantitative measurement of the amount of coloured
light absorbed by a sample (with reagents added) in
reference to an untreated sample (blank).
White light is made up of many different wavelengths
of light.
A colorimeter passes a white light beam through an optical
filter which transmits only one particular band of wavelength
of light to the photodetector where it is measured.
The difference in the amount of coloured light transmitted
by a colourless sample (blank) and the amount of coloured
light transmitted by a coloured sample is a measurement
of the amount of coloured light absorbed by the sample.
The use of filters improves the sensitivity of this process
and choice of the correct optical filter (and therefore the
correct wavelength) of light is important.

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It is interesting to note that the filter that gives the most
sensitive calibration for a test factor is the complementary
colour of the test sample. For example, the DPD chlorine
test produces a pink colour proportional to the chlorine
concentration in the sample (the greater the chlorine
concentration, the darker the pink colour). In this case, a
green filter gives the greatest sensitivity as a pinkish-red
solution absorbs mostly green light.
Palintest photometers calculate and then display the test
results directly in milligrams per litre (mg/l) of the test
factor, by comparing the amount of absorbed light to the
calibration data programmed into the instrument.
Photodetector
Blue Solution
(450 - 500nm)
Red Filter
(625 –635nm)
Red light only passes
through the filter. All
other light is absorbed.
Incident
Wavelengths of blue light
plus small quantities of red
light pass through the
solution.

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Blanks and Samples
Palintest photometers use a BLANK to set the
instrument and a SAMPLE to take the reading.
The blank setting is held in memory. It is not necessary
to reset the blank each time a reading is taken if the
water samples are similar and the conditions of use are
the same. The blank setting can be confirmed if
necessary by taking a test reading on the blank.
Taking a Reading
1Press the ‘on/off’ button to start the unit.
2Press the ‘menu’ button until the test you wish to
perform is indicated on the screen.
3Insert your blank and press the ‘blank sample’
button.
4An image displaying a blank cuvette will be displayed
on screen. When this is replaced by 0.00 the
instrument is finished blanking and ready to take a
reading.
5Remove your blank and replace it with the sample.
Press the ‘Read Sample’ button to take a reading.
The result will be displayed on screen in mg/l N.
Red filter
620 - 640nm

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Care and Maintenance
The handling of the colorimeter cuvettes is important to
ensure continuing accuracy. Scratches, finger-prints and
water droplets on the cuvette or inside the light chamber
can cause inaccurate results. It is imperative that the
cuvettes and light chamber are clean and dry. The
glassware must be clean and defect-free. Scratches and
abrasions will permanently affect the accuracy of the
readings. Cuvettes can be acid washed periodically.
Here are some hints on keeping the photometer clean,
free from contamination and in good working order :-
1Prepare your workplace before use. Make sure that
you have enough space to work with the photometer
and with the reagent systems.
2Do not pour out samples or prepare the tests
directly over the instrument.
3Always cap the test cuvettes after preparing the
blank and test sample.
4Wipe test cuvettes on a clean tissue to remove drips
or condensation before placing in the photometer.
5Do not leave cuvettes standing in the photometer test
chamber. Remove the cuvettes immediately after
each test.
6Immediately wipe up any drips or spillages onto the
instrument or into the test chamber with a clean
tissue.
7Keep the instrument clean. Clean the test chamber
regularly using a moistened tissue or cotton bud.

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8Keep the instrument in a clean, dry place when it is
not in use. Keep it on a clean, dry bench away from
chemicals, place it in a storage cupboard or keep it
in a carrying case.
Viewing the Instrument Memory
To view the previous results (10 results are stored
within the instrument memory), hold the ‘menu’ button
down for at least three seconds whilst the display
showing the selected test or result is on the screen.
To scroll through the 10 different results, simply
press the ‘menu’ button. To exit the results menu,
press the ‘menu’ button again for at least three
seconds.
Backlight Operation
The backlight can be turned on and off by holding the
‘On/Off’ button for a two second period during power
on.

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3 TEST PROCEDURES
Before attempting to do any tests, ensure you read
‘Blanks and Samples’ and the ‘Care and Maintenance’
sections in Section 2.
To Select the Test
Press the MENU key. The currently selected test will
appear on the display:
Method Test Name
1 Ammonia 15N (Nessler) Nes 15N
2 Ammonia 50N (Nessler) Nes 50N
3 Ammonia 100N (Nessler) Nes 100N
4 Ammonia 1N (Indophenol) Ind 1N*
5 Ammonia 12N (Indophenol) Ind 12N*
6 Ammonia 50N (Indophenol) Ind 50N*
To change the test selected, press the MENU key until
the required test appears on the display.
The ranges in each test refer to the lower limit of
detection to the highest value meeting the analytical
performance standard.
* = Only available on the Compact Ammonia Duo
Meter.

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To use the adaptor :-
The adaptor allows the use of 16 mm Tubetests in the
Compact Ammonia +/Ammonia Duo.
Insert the adaptor (shown below) into the test cuvette
holder. It can only be inserted in one way (the small
arrow on the front of the cuvette should line up with
the small arrow on the test cuvette holder :-
To set the blank :-
1 Insert the BLANK into the adaptor
2 Press the ‘Blank Sample’ button.
To take the test reading :-
1 Insert the SAMPLE into the adaptor
2 Press the ‘Read Sample’ button.

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Ammonia
Wavelength –465nm
Method –Nessler Method
Range - Nes 15N= 0.06 - 15.0 mg/l N
1Remove the cap of the Tubetests Ammonia/15N
(Nessler) Cuvette and add 5.0 ml of sample by
using the syringe. Cap cuvette and invert three
times to mix.
2Use this cuvette to Blank the instrument
3Add 12 drops of Tubetests Ammonia (Nessler)
Reagent. Replace cap and invert several times to
mix.
4Stand for one minute to allow colour development.
5Select range Nes 15N
6Take photometer reading in usual manner (see
section 2).
7The result is displayed as mg/l N.

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Nes 50N= 0.5 - 50.0 mg/l
1Remove the cap of the Tubetests Ammonia/50N
(Nessler) Cuvette and add 1.0 ml of sample by
using the syringe. Cap cuvette and invert three
times to mix.
2Use this cuvette to Blank the instrument
3Add 12 drops of Tubetests Ammonia (Nessler)
Reagent. Replace cap and invert several times to
mix.
4Stand for one minute to allow colour development.
5Select range Nes 50N
6Take photometer reading in usual manner (see
section 2).
7The result is displayed as mg/l N.

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Nes 100N= 1.0 - 100.0 mg/l
1Remove the cap of the Tubetests Ammonia/15N
(Nessler) Cuvette and add 0.5 ml of sample by
using the syringe. Cap cuvette and invert three
times to mix.
2Use this cuvette to Blank the instrument
3Add 12 drops of Tubetests Ammonia (Nessler)
Reagent. Replace cap and invert several times to
mix.
4Stand for one minute to allow colour development.
5Select range Nes 100N
6Take photometer reading in usual manner (see
section 2).
7The result is displayed as mg/l N.

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Wavelength –620nm
Method –Indophenol Method
Range - Ind 1N = 0.02 - 1 mg/l N
1Fill test cuvette with sample to the 10 ml mark.
2Use this cuvette to Blank the instrument
3Add one Ammonia No 1 tablet and one Ammonia
No 2 tablet, crush and mix to dissolve.
4Stand for exactly 10 minutes to allow colour
development.
5Select range Ind 1N
6Take photometer reading in usual manner (see
section 2).
7The result is displayed as mg/l N.

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Ind 12N = 0.06 - 12.0 mg/l N
1Remove the cap of the Tubetests
Ammonia/12N/50N (Indophenol) Cuvette and add
1.0 ml of sample by using the syringe. Cap cuvette
and invert three times to mix.
2Use this cuvette to Blank the instrument
3Add one Tubetests Ammonia tablet, crush and mix
to dissolve. Replace cap and invert several times to
mix.
4Stand for exactly 10 minutes to allow colour
development.
5Select range Ind 12N
6Take photometer reading in usual manner (see
section 2).
7The result is displayed as mg/l N.

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Ind 50N = 0.1 - 50.0 mg/l N
1Remove the cap of the Tubetests
Ammonia/12N/50N (Indophenol) Cuvette and add
exactly 0.2 ml of sample using the syringe. Swirl
cuvette to mix.
2Use this cuvette to Blank the instrument
3Add one Tubetests Ammonia tablet, crush and mix
to dissolve. Replace cap and invert several times to
mix.
4Stand for exactly 10 minutes to allow colour
development.
5Select range Ind 50N
6Take photometer reading in usual manner (see
section 2).
7The result is displayed as mg/l N.

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4 INSTRUMENT
For an illustration of the instrument layout, see Section 1.
Replacing the Batteries
Replace the battery when the symbol remains on the
display. Use 2 x 1.5v alkaline ‘AA’ batteries, MN 1500,
LR6, E91, AM3 or equivalent. Remove batteries from
instrument if it is to be stored or left unused for a long
period of time.
Liability
Under no circumstances shall Palintest Ltd be liable for
loss of life, property, profits or other damages incurred
through the use or misuse of their products.
Disposal
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).
Natural resources were used in the production of this
equipment. This equipment may contain materials that
are hazardous to health and the environment.
To avoid harm to the environment and natural resources,
the use of appropriate take-back systems is recommended.
The crossed out wheeled bin symbol on the meter
encourages you to use these systems when disposing of
this equipment.