palintest Ammonia Duo User manual

2
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

3
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.

4
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

5
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

7
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.

8
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.

9
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

10
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.