Instruction Manual
HI 96821
Refractometer for
Sodium Chloride Measurements
www.hannainst.com
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Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing a Hanna product. This manual will provide you with the necessary
information for the correct use of this instrument. Please read it carefully before using the meter. If
you need additional technical information, do not hesitate to e-mail us at tech@hannainst.com.
This instrument is in compliance with
directives.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION ............................................................................................. 2
GENERAL DESCRIPTION .....................................................................................................3
SPECIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................. 3
PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION ................................................................................................4
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION................................................................................................ 5
DISPLAY ELEMENTS............................................................................................................ 6
MEASUREMENT GUIDELINES .............................................................................................. 6
CALIBRATION PROCEDURE ................................................................................................ 7
MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE ............................................................................................. 8
TO CHANGE MEASUREMENT UNIT .....................................................................................9
TO CHANGE TEMPERATURE UNIT...................................................................................... 9
MAKING A STANDARD SODIUM CHLORIDE SOLUTION ..................................................10
BATTERY REPLACEMENT .................................................................................................10
WARRANTY ........................................................................................................................ 10
ERROR MESSAGES ............................................................................................................11
PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION
Remove the instrument from the packing materials and examine carefully to ensure no
damage has occurred during shipping. If any damage has occurred, notify your Dealer
or closest Hanna Customer Service Center.
Each instrument is supplied with:
• 9 V battery
• Instruction manual
Note:Save all packing material until you are sure that the instrument functions
correctly. A defective instrument must be returned in its original packing.
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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GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The HI 96821 Digital Refractometer is a rugged portable, water resistant device that benefits from
Hanna’s years of experience as a manufacturer of analytical instruments.
The HI 96821 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 measured 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.
The instrument utilizes internationally recognized references for unit conversion and temperature
compensation. It can display the measurement of NaCl concentration 4 different ways: g/100 g,
g/100 mL, Specific Gravity, and °Baumé.
Temperature (in °C or °F) is displayed simultaneously with the measurement (on 3 of the ranges)
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
SPECIFICATIONS
g001/gLm001/gytivarGcificepSémuaB°)F°(C°
:egnaR 82ot043ot0612.1ot000.162ot0)F°671ot23(C°08ot0
:noituloseR 1.01.0100
:ycaruccA 2.0±2.0±200.0±2.0±)F°5.0±(C°3.0±
.01.0)F°1.0(C°1.0
Temperature Compensation: Automatic between 10 and 40 °C (50 - 104 °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: IP 65
Battery Type / Life: 1 X 9V / 5000 readings
Auto-Off: After 3 minutes of non-use
Dimensions: 19.2(W) x 10.2(D) x 6.7(H) cm
Mass: 420 g
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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 travels
through a substance of different refractive index. This is called refraction.
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 critical angle can be used to easily calculate the refractive index according to the equation:
sin (θ
) = n2 / n
critical
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Where n2 is the refractive index of the lower-density medium; n1 is the refractive index of the
higher-density medium.
In the HI 96821 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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