The manufacture of laboratory materials is regulated and all products have to follow certain quality standards that guarantee user safety and high reliability in the results they produce, so that the margins of error in experiments and tests are as low as possible. reduced possible.

As we already mentioned, the materials with which each laboratory is equipped depend on its needs and to choose the appropriate range of products, the types of processes that will be carried out in it must be taken into account, here equipment, consumables and chemical products.

The equipment is all the instruments used to make measurements, the tools and containers that are necessary to do the research, experimentation, synthesis or analysis that is carried out in the laboratory.
Consumables are those elements that after one use or a couple of uses have to be discarded and include protection elements, clothing, water, compressed air and special cleaning products, among others.
Chemical products include all substances, substrates and reagents used in research.

Below we present an example of the laboratory materials involved in a specific process of great importance in a wide variety of industrial sectors and in the scientific field: pH measurement. In addition, we give some recommendations of measurement equipment that can be used to obtain highly accurate results in the measurement of this parameter, highlighting the importance of correctly choosing the materials with which a laboratory will be equipped.

The measurement of pH (hydrogen potential) is one of the most important parameters carried out for quality control and, according to specialists in the field, it is second in importance after temperature.

The determination of pH has a wide field of application: research, industry, teaching, among others. In laboratories where it is relevant to know the potential of hydrogen, you will always find a pH measurement equipment as a primary instrument.

For the correct measurement of this parameter, it is necessary to select the optimal laboratory equipment, therefore it is very important to take into account the following aspects:

• Measurement equipment.
• Type and amount of sample to analyze.
• Electrode selection.
• Reagents necessary for the calibration of the equipment (buffer solution).

Initially, it is very important to know that if reliable, reproducible, precise and exact measurements are required, the appropriate laboratory material and equipment for pH measurements, such as pH meters, are first required.

As a second point, if a good sample is taken, representative, precise, exact and reliable measurements will be obtained in the same way; an incorrectly taken sample will produce measurements that are not representative, accurate, or reliable.

Subsequently, to select the best electrode according to the type of sample, it is necessary to know their characteristics; There are glass body, epoxy body, refillable, non-refillable (low maintenance), micro-electrodes, bulb, flat tip, flow, among others.

According to these characteristics, the selection of the electrode must be functional for the type of sample to be analyzed:

• For measurements where high accuracy is required, an electrode provides a fast response and is suitable for research-level applications.
• For samples such as culture media, TRIS solutions or those that include proteins in their formulation, the ideal measuring device is one that includes a ROSS-type electrode, since said electrode has a platinum reference and its filling solution does not include silver.
• For gels, creams, jams, with a high content of solids, the recommended measuring equipment is one that includes a flat tip electrode.
• For difficult paints and samples, the ideal choice is an electrode where the flow of the fill solution ensures that solids do not accumulate in the joint, preventing it from clogging.
• For samples with low solid content, transparent or clear liquids, low maintenance electrodes are a recommended option; They are also ideal for field measurements.

At Kalstein we offer you an excellent range of pH meters that range from economical options to state-of-the-art equipment, recognized for their reliability, precision and ease of use. That is why we invite you to take a look at our available pH meters HERE