Refractometers

A refractometer is a laboratory or field instrument used for measuring concentrations of aqueous solutions. It requires only a few drops of liquid and is used throughout the food, agricultural, chemical, and manufacturing industries. You can find out more in our guide to refractometers.

Refractometers measure the degree to which light changes direction, called the angle of refraction. A refractometer takes the refraction angles and correlates them to refractive index (nD) values that have been established. Using these values, you can determine the concentrations of solutions.

At RS, we offer a comprehensive range of refractometers designed to meet the diverse needs of various industries. Our selection includes high-precision instruments from leading brands such as Kern, Extech, Instruments Direct, and RS PRO. These refractometers are known for their accuracy, ensuring reliable measurements for critical applications. These tools are essential in sectors such as industrial manufacturing, automotive, and food production, where precise measurements are crucial for quality control and process optimisation. With RS, you can rely on top-quality products to support your operations, expert assistance whenever you need it, and fast delivery to keep your projects on track.

Types of Refractometer

• Hand refractometers facilitate convenient and rapid measurement of concentration in a number of liquid and semi-solid samples. It works on critical angle principle in which lenses and prisms project a shadow line onto a small glass reticule inside the instrument, which is then viewed through a magnifying eyepiece.
• Digital refractometers operate on the same critical angle principle as a handheld refractometer. The difference is that light from an LED is focused on the underside or a prism element. When a liquid sample is applied to the measuring surface of the prism, some of the light is transmitted through the solution and lost, while the remaining light is reflected onto an array of photodiodes creating a shadow line. Once the position of the shadow line has been automatically determined by the instrument, the internal software will correlate the position to refractive index and display a digital readout.
• Brix Refractometers measures the sugar content in liquids, expressed in degrees Brix (°Bx). They are commonly used in the food and beverage industry to ensure the quality and consistency of products like juices, wines, and soft drinks.
• Portable Optical Refractometers are handheld instruments that measure the refractive index of a liquid, which can be used to determine various properties such as concentration and purity. They are versatile tools used in fields like agriculture, automotive, and clinical laboratories.