[Nhcoll-l] Digital density meter vs refractometer

Tue Mar 21 18:32:19 EDT 2023

Interesting topic as I was recently recommended a refractometer via Amazon and as men atoned, once calibrated it does have sufficient accuracy to measure alcohol percentages well enough for fluid preservation work.  I now have one too.

With all good wishes, Simon

Simon Moore MIScT, RSci, FLS, ACR
Conservator of Natural Sciences and Cutlery Historian,
www.natural-history-conservation.com

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> On 21 Mar 2023, at 21:20, Dirk Neumann <d.neumann at leibniz-lib.de> wrote:
> 
> ... or you invest a bit more (approx 90 Eur) in small calibrated densitometres -  see earlier post from 2021 ...
> 
> From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> On Behalf Of Dirk Neumann
> Sent: 19 March 2021 07:41
> To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu
> Subject: Re: [Nhcoll-l] Hydrometer for spirit collection
>  
> 
>  
> why not using a small, customised alcoholmetre? We have a set of small, approximately 5 cm high alcoholmetres you can easily plunge into jars. They are user friendly, have no electronic parts, do not need to be charged, are very stable against chemical corrosion, and low cost (70 EUR).
>  
> All the best
> Dirk
>  
>  
> <xctJWOW5DvLf9A7o.png>
> 
> Am 21.03.2023 um 22:14 schrieb Callomon,Paul:
>> I'd also point to the good old Traille glass densitometers - the bigger ones are pretty accurate, though you need enough fluid for them to float in. The little "pocket" ones are less precise, but are cheap and do not go out of calibration.
>> 
>> 
>> Paul Callomon
>> Collection Manager, Malacology and General Invertebrates
>> Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, Philadelphia
>> callomon at ansp.org Tel 215-405-5096 - Fax 215-299-1170
>> From: Nhcoll-l <nhcoll-l-bounces at mailman.yale.edu> on behalf of Bentley, Andrew Charles <abentley at ku.edu>
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 5:11 PM
>> To: nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu <nhcoll-l at mailman.yale.edu>
>> Subject: [Nhcoll-l] Digital density meter vs refractometer
>>  External.
>> After receiving an enquiry from someone about cheap alternatives to expensive digital density meters, I purchased a refractometer from Amazon for $22  (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018LSMI34).  I did a number of tests against 70%, 50% and 30% and various concentrations in between measured with our $3,000 Anton Paar DMA 35 digital density meter.  The refractometer is not super accurate but is probably within 2-3% once calibrated.  I first calibrated against distilled water using the method in the instructions but found that it was reading a little high and so then calibrated against a known 70% concentration and then it was reading a little more accurately.  Take home I think is that if you are not too concerned about super accurate readings and just want to get in the ballpark it is a viable, cheap (can?t beat $22) alternative to a digital density meter.
>>  Just an FYI for those working with wet collections who may be working with restrictive budgets.
>>  Andy
>>     A  :             A  :             A  :
>>  }<(((_?>.,.,.,.}<(((_?>.,.,.,.}<)))_?>
>>     V                V                V
>> Andy Bentley
>> Ichthyology Collection Manager
>> University of Kansas
>> Biodiversity Institute
>> Dyche Hall
>> 1345 Jayhawk Boulevard
>> Lawrence, KS, 66045-7561
>> USA
>> 
>> Tel: (785) 864-3863
>> Fax: (785) 864-5335 
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>> http://ichthyology.biodiversity.ku.edu
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> 
> -- 
> ****
>  Dirk Neumann
> Collection Manager, Hamburg
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> Stiftung Leibniz-Institut zur Analyse des Biodiversit?tswandels
> Postanschrift: Adenauerallee 127, 53113 Bonn, Germany
> 
> Stiftung des ?ffentlichen Rechts;
> Generaldirektion: Prof. Dr. Bernhard Misof (Generaldirektor), Adrian Gr?ter (Kaufm. Gesch?ftsf?hrer)
> Sitz der Stiftung: Adenauerallee 160 in Bonn
> Vorsitzender des Stiftungsrates: Dr. Michael Wappelhorst
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> NHCOLL-L is brought to you by the Society for the Preservation of
> Natural History Collections (SPNHC), an international society whose
> mission is to improve the preservation, conservation and management of
> natural history collections to ensure their continuing value to
> society. See http://www.spnhc.org for membership information.
> Advertising on NH-COLL-L is inappropriate.