Description
Professional Portable pH Meter for Milk – HI98162
The HI98162 is a portable, waterproof, and rugged food pH meter that measures pH and temperature using the FC1013 specialized dairy probe. This professional waterproof meter meets IP67 standards. The HI98162 is supplied with all the accessories needed to perform a pH/temperature measurement and comes in a durable thermoformed case that keeps gauges, probes and calibration standards securely in place.
Measuring pH in milk is important in testing for impurities, spoilage, and signs of mastitis infection. While there are a number of factors that affect milk composition, pH measurements can help producers understand what might be causing certain changes in composition. pH measurement is commonly performed at various points in a milk processing plant.
Fresh milk has a pH value of 6.7. When the pH value of milk falls below pH 6.7, it indicates deterioration due to bacterial degradation. Bacteria in the Lactobacillaceae family are lactic acid bacteria (LABs) responsible for the breakdown of lactose in milk to form lactic acid. Eventually, when the milk reaches a sufficiently acidic pH, coagulation or curdling will occur along with the characteristic smell and taste of “acidic” milk.
Milk with pH values higher than pH 6.7 indicates that the milk may come from cows with a mastitis infection. Mastitis is an ever-present challenge in dairy cows. When infected, the cow’s immune system releases histamine and other compounds in response to the infection. There is a resulting increase in the permeability of endothelial and epithelial cell layers, allowing blood components to pass through a paracellular pathway. Since blood plasma is slightly alkaline, the resulting pH of milk will be higher than normal. Typically, dairy farmers can perform a somatic cell count to detect a mastitis infection, but a pH measurement offers a quick way to detect an infection.
Understanding the pH of raw milk can also help producers optimize their processing techniques. For example, in operations that use Ultra High Temperature (UHT) processing, even small variations of pH 6.7 can affect the time required for pasteurization and the stability of the milk after treatment.
Measuring the pH of milk can provide a number of challenges. Dairy products tend to be high in solids that coat the sensitive surface of the glass membrane and/or obstruct the reference bond. The FC1013 supplied with the HI98162 is specifically designed to measure pH in milk. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) body is a food-grade plastic that is resistant to most chemicals and solvents, including sodium hypochlorite. It has high abrasion resistance, mechanical strength, and resistance to ultraviolet and nuclear radiation. PVDF is also resistant to fungal growth. The FC1013 is an ideal pH electrode for use in dairy products that connects to the HI98162 with a waterproof quick-connect DIN connector, allowing it to be a threadless and secure accessory.
The HI98162 uses the FC1013 amplified pH electrode with PVDF body. This specialized electrode offers numerous features that improve pH testing for dairy farmers. An integrated temperature sensor allows temperature-compensated pH measurements without the need for a separate temperature probe. The contact between the large surface area of the bulb and the milk sample ensures stable calibration and measurement.
An integral part of any pH electrode is the reference junction. The reference junction is a part of the electrode that allows flow between the ions located in the reference cell and the sample being tested. It is vital that this flow occurs to complete an electrical circuit, which ultimately determines the pH value. Any blockage of the junction will prevent the completion of the circuit, resulting in erratic readings or readings that will constantly drift.
The FC1013 probe uses a secondary reference chamber with an external ceramic junction that allows the silver-free aqueous electrolyte to flow slowly through the porous ceramic frit providing accurate readings for aqueous samples.
The FC1013’s durable PVDF body ensures that pH measurements can be taken safely in the dairy plant or on the production floor. The electrode components can also withstand a wider range of temperatures to allow for precision during stages such as pasteurization, which requires heating to temperatures close to 72°C (161°F).
In addition to being supplied with a pH electrode for milk, the HI98162 has Hanna’s unique CAL Check™ function that alerts the user to potential problems during the calibration process. This is very important for the milk processor, as the probe is likely to be covered with the solids found in the milk being measured. This coating can easily lead to errors in pH measurement. By comparing previous calibration data with the current calibration, the meter will inform the user, with on-screen indications, when the probe needs to be cleaned, replaced, or if the pH standard may be contaminated. After calibration, the overall condition of the probe is displayed on the display as a percentage of 0 to 100% in 10% increments. The probe’s condition is affected by the offset and slope characteristics of the pH electrode, which can be found in the GLP data.
Pressing the virtual “AutoHold” key in the measurement mode will freeze the meter and automatically record a stable reading. An “out of calibration range” warning can be enabled that will alert the user when a reading is not within the range of calibrated pH values.
The on-demand recording mode allows the user to record and save up to 200 samples. The recorded data, along with the associated GLP data, can be retrieved or transferred to a PC with Hanna’s HI920015 micro USB cable and HI92000 software for traceability in record-keeping for specific product batches. LPG data includes date, time, calibration standards, offset and slope, and can be accessed directly by pressing the dedicated LPG key.
A contextual help menu based on the screen currently being viewed can be accessed at any time by pressing a dedicated button.
The high-contrast graphic LCD screen is easy to see outdoors in sunlight, as well as in low-light areas through backlight. A combination of dedicated and virtual keys allows for easy and intuitive operation of the meter in a variety of languages.
The compact and durable HI720161 carrying case is thermoformed to hold all the components needed for field measurement, including the meter and electrode, beakers, standard solutions, and cleaning solutions.
Specs:
pH range: -2.0 to 20.0 pH; -2.00 to 20.00 pH; -2,000 to 20,000 pH
pH resolution: 0.1 pH; 0.01 pH; 0.001 pH
pH accuracy: ±0.1; ±0.002 pH
pH calibration: Calibration of up to five points, seven standard solutions available (1.68, 4.01, 6.86, 7.01, 9.18, 10.01, 12.45) + five custom solutions
Input Impedance pH: 10^12 Ohms
mV Range: ±2000 mV
mV Resolution: 0.1 mV
mV accuracy: ±0.2 mV
Temperature Range: -20.0 to 120.0°C (-4.0 to 248.0°F)
Temperature Resolution: 0.1°C (0.1°F)
Temperature Accuracy: ±0.4°C (±0.8°F) (excluding probe error)
Temperature Compensation: Manual or automatic -20.0 to 120.0 °C (-4.0 to 248.0 °F)
pH Electrode: FC1013 Pre-Amplified pH Probe with Internal Temperature Sensor, Quick Connect DIN Connector, and 1m (3.3′) Cable (Included)
Log Memory: 200 samples (100 for pH range and 100 for mV)
Opto-isolated USB connectivity with optional HI 92000 software and micro USB cable
Auto Power Off: User selectable: 5, 10, 30, 60 min or can be turned off
LPG: Yes
Battery Type/Life: 1.5V AA Batteries (4) (Not Included) / approximately 200 hours of continuous use without backlight (50 hours with backlight)
IP protection: IP67
Ambient: 0 to 50°C (32 to 122°F); HR 100%
Dimensions: 185 x 93 x 35.2 mm (7.3 x 3.6 x 1.4″)
Weight: 400 g (14.2 oz.)
