A Truly Portable Karl Fischer for the Oil and Power Industries

Measuring and controlling the amount of water in oils is of considerable economic importance to the industrial community, particularly to the crude oil and electric power industries. Water content determination by Karl Fischer titration is no longer restricted to being used by a chemist in a laboratory – now the technique is used by engineers, plant operators, tanker drivers, distribution/maintenance engineers and other non-laboratory personnel.

Karl Fischer titrations can now be performed in many different locations such as the tailgate of trucks, mobile laboratories, offshore installations, tankers, engineering workshops and dockside cabins. Titrators which have the stirrer unit as an integral part of the instrument, a sturdy carry case, optional battery power supply and special glassware which can be charged with reagents prior to leaving the laboratory or workshop allow the operator to transport the instrument ready-assembled - even to places with no mains power supply.

GR Scientific (UK) have launched a specialised version of the very successful Aquamax KF Coulometer which has a built-in carry handle and a protective cage around the titration vessel and electrodes. The unique low drift cell glassware design is by far the easiest to use and also the most robust. The electrode locking system allows the joints to seal completely, without the use of grease or Teflon sleeves, and provides improved baseline stability. Hassle free assembly and disassembly. This cell design enables users to transport the instrument with reagents already in the titration cell so that it can be used immediately on arrival.

Software changes have also been made so that the first prompt on the display reads “Water Standard Test”. By simply pressing just one single button, the titrator is ready for the operator to inject 10 µl of distilled water as required by the ASTM methods for these analyses. After running this 10,000 µg check the titrator reverts back to ordinary user mode. The Water Standard Test can also be used to check lower microgram count levels using water standard pellets and pellet sampler.

The Aquamax KF Portable is supplied complete with an OPS Workstation. A sturdy outer case secures and enables transportation of the titrator complete with 2 spare anode reagent bottles, 2 spare cathode reagent vials, distilled water and 10 microlitre syringe for water standard test, pellet sampler and water standard pellets, 1ml & 5ml sample syringes and luer needles, power pack, in-car adapter and Results Manager USB flash drive for storage of all results whilst in the field.

To be truly portable it should be possible to carry the instrument with just one hand whilst it is working.