Atago 2353 MASTER-53M Hand-Held Refractometer, Manual Temperature Compensation, Brix 0.0 to 53.0%

The Atago 2353 MASTER-53M is a hand-held, portable refractometer with a Brix scale that measures in the 0.0 to 53.0% range, has a spoon-shaped tip for automatic smooth sampling (ASD), manual temperature compensation, and a ridged outer shell. A Brix refractometer measures the refractive index of a solution in a sample, converts it to sugar concentration in units of percent by weight (% Brix, also known as degrees Brix), and displays the results. Hand-held refractometers, also known as sugar meters, concentration meters, or Brix meters, are commonly used in the culinary, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, educational, geological, chemical, and ecological industries, and for water-testing applications.

This refractometer is housed in a durable, die-cast aluminum metal body for heat and organic solvent resistance. The 2353 MASTER-53M features manual temperature compensation. The unit can be calibrated with water. Calibration can be controlled and adjusted with an exposed calibration screw and an included specialized screwdriver, although other items can be used to unscrew the unit. However, the unit retains its water-resistance. A spoon-shaped tip allows for automatic sample distribution (ASD) across the prism and boundary line (also called measurement line) for accurate, smooth sampling with small portions, and sample disposal from the edge. With the ASD feature, the daylight plate does not need to be lifted to cover the prism with the sample. The outer shell grip is smooth and easy to clean, which reduces the possibility of food and sample entrapment, avoiding contamination and bacterial growth. The analog Brix scale features a bright, high-contrast display for clear visibility of the boundary and memory lines intersection. Samples are viewed through a monocular, focusable, cushioned eyepiece. The unit includes a protective plastic storage case with a foam cut-out insert to cushion the instrument.

Specifications

*H is height, the vertical distance from the lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.

Refractometers are used to determine substance content in a sample, to provide unit readings of substances including Brix, salinity, and alcohol; to detect chemical impurities, or to measure components of samples such as industrial fluid. Refractometers measure the refractive index of a substance, which is its optical characteristic, and the number of dissolved particles in it. The refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in empty space to the speed of light in a substance; when light passes from one medium to another. Generally, a low concentration sample has a larger angle of refraction than a high concentration sample. For example, a straw placed in a high-concentration substance appears more bent than when placed in a low-concentration substance. Refractometers can work with natural light, or with an external power source such as batteries or electricity. They typically have either a digital or analog reading display, though some units utilize both types. Some analog-display refractometers can be used for both solids and liquids. Digital-display refractometers are used exclusively for liquids. Types of refractometers include hand-held, benchtop, and in-process. Hand-held refractometers are elongated and telescope-shaped, or shorter and rectangular. Analog hand-held refractometer readings are obtained by looking through the monocular eyepiece and viewing where the boundary line intersects with the memory line. Digital hand-held models provide a digital readout. Benchtop refractometers typically measure with a higher degree of accuracy than hand-held units. In-process refractometers are used for continuous process monitoring and data readouts, and are generally fitted into a piping system for ongoing analysis. Refractometers are used in a wide variety of applications in the culinary, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, educational, geological, chemical, ecological, and automotive industries, and for water-testing applications.

Atago Co., Ltd. manufactures analytical instruments such as refractometers, polarimeters, and saccharimeters, as well as a variety of meters. The company, founded in 1940 and headquartered in Tokyo, offers products that comply with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) system standards, and many International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards.

What’s in the Box?

• 2353 MASTER-53M refractometer
• Calibration screwdriver
• Plastic storage case
• Instructions