Topic:

DENSITOMETRY
Msc IVth Semester (Biotechnology)
P -14 Advance Techniques in Biotechnology
Unit I.2.iii
By
Dr.Chaitali Mathew([email protected])
Swami Sri Swaroopanand Saraswati Mahavidyalaya
Hudco, Bhilai
 Content

 Definition
 Types of DENSITOMETRY
 SINGLE-LINE DENSITOMETRY
 MULTIPLE ENERGY DENSITOMETRY
 ABSORPTION-EDGE DENSITOMETRY

 Types of Densitometer

 Densitometer for measurement of solids

 Densitometer for measurement of Liquid
 Densitometer for measurement of Gases
 DENSITOMETRY

Definition: The term “densitometry” refers to measurement of the density of a material by

determining the degree to which that material attenuates electromagnetic radiation
of a given energy.
It is an instrumental technique that is more accurate than visual inspection by the naked eye.
In densitometry the resolved spots on the 2D gel are scanned and their densities are determined with
a densitometer. The density of the spots is directly proportional to protein concentration

Classification: Densitometry classification on the basis of determination of the transmission of

electromagnetic radiation of a given energy by the sample material.

SINGLE-LINE DENSITOMETRY
If a sample is composed of one type of material of a mixture of materials
whose composition is tightly controlled except for one component-then the sample
transmission at one gamma-ray energy can be used as a measure of the concentration
(density p) of the varying component.

MULTIPLE ENERGY DENSITOMETRY

In Multiple energy densitometry the measurement of photon transmission at one energy allows for the assay
of only one substance or of only one component of a mixture and the concentration of the other components
must be kept constant. Measurement of photon transmission at two energies allows for the assay of two
components of a mixture. Such a compound measurement stands the greatest chance for success the more
the attenuation coefficients of the two components differ from one another.
ABSORPTION-EDGE DENSITOMETRY
Absorption-edge densitometry is a special application of two-energy densitometry. The photon energies at
which the transmissions are measured are selected to be as near as possible to, and on opposite sides of, the
absorption-edge discontinuity in the energy dependence of the mass attenuation coefficient for me unknown
material

DENSITOMETER: A densitometer is an instrument having a light-sensitive photoelectric eye for measuring

the density of colored ink to measure and control the optical density of color inks on the substrate.

Or

Density is a physical property constant at a given temperature and density can help to identify a substance.

Density is defined as an object mass per unit volume

It is defined as the mass (m) per unit volume (v)
ρ = m/v
The SI unit of density is kg/m3
The density can be expressed as ρ = m / V = 1 / vg (1)
where ρ = density (kg/m3)
m = mass (kg)
V = volume (m3)
vg = specific volume (m3/kg).

Principle: Densitometer is based on Archimedes’ principle that is “the buoyant force on a float (displacer) is
a function only of the fluid density surrounding the float”.

Components: A densitometer consists of a light source, a means for inserting a sample to be measured, a
photodetector, an amplifier, and some type of analog or digital density-value indicator. Density readings are
made by measuring the amount of light with and without the sample in place.

Figure 1 Basic components of Optical Densitometer

Types of Densitometer

1. Densitometer for measurement of solids:

Physical measuring method: Dynamic methods are employed, such as radioactive absorption types,
ultrasonic, and other techniques.
Radioactive Densitometer:
As radioactive isotopes decay, they emit radiation in the form of particles or waves. This physical
phenomenon can be used for the purposes of density measurement. For example,
grays are passed through the samples and their rate of arrivals are measured using ion- or scintillation-based
detection .Generally, g-ray mass absorption rate is independent of material composition; hence they can be
programmed for a wide range materials. Densitometers based on radiation methods can provide accuracy up
to +0.0001 g mL–1. Many of these devices have self-diagnostic capabilities and are able to compensate
for drift caused by source decay, thus pinpointing any signaling problems. If g rays of intensity J0penetrate a
material of a density r and thickness d then the intensity of the radiation after passing through the material
can be expressed by:
 
J J exp n d
where n is the mass absorption coefficient.
The accuracy of the density measurement depends on the accuracy of the measurement of the intensity of
the radiation and the path length D
A longer path length through the material gives a stronger detection signal. For accurate operations, there are
many arrangements for relative locations of transmitters and detectors,
Generally, the source is mounted in a lead container clamped onto the pipe or the container wall. In many
applications, the detector is also clamped onto the wall.

Fig: Radioactive Densitometer

2. Densitometer for measurement of Liquid: Depending on the application, fluid densities can be
measured both in Static and Dynamic forms. In general, static density measurements of fluids are well
developed, precise, and have greater resolution than most dynamic techniques. Pycnometers and buoyancy
1. Pycnometric densitometers
Pycnometers are static devices. They are manufactured as fixed volume vessels that can be filled with the
sample liquid. The density of the fluid is measured by weighing the sample. The simplest version consists of
a vessel in the shape of a bottle with a long stopper containing a capillary hole. The capillary is used to
determine the exact volume of the liquid, thus giving high resolution when filling the pycnometer. The bottle
is first weighed empty, and then with distilled-aerated water to determine the volume of the bottle. The
bottle is then filled with the process fluid and weighed again. The density is determined by dividing the mass
by the volume. The specific gravity of the liquid is found by the ratio of the fluid mass to water mass. When
pycnometers are used, for good precision, ultimate care must be exercised during the measurements; that is,
the bottle must be cleaned after each measurement, the temperature must be kept constant, and precision
balances must be used. In some cases, to ensure filling of the pycnometer, twin capillary tubes are used. The
two capillaries, made of glass, are positioned such that the fluid can be driven into the vessel under vacuum
conditions. Accurate filling to graduation marks on the capillary is then made.
2. Buoyancy-type densitometers
The buoyancy method basically uses Archimedes principle. A suspended sinker, with a known mass and
volume attached to a fine wire, is totally immersed in the sample liquid. A precision force balance is used
measure the force to support the sinker. Once the mass, volume, and supporting weight of the
sinker.Buoyancy-type densitometers give accurate results and are used for the calibration of the other liquid
density transducers.
One advanced version of the buoyancy technique is the magnetic suspension system. The sinker is fully
enclosed in a pressure vessel, thus eliminating surface tension errors. Their uses can also be extended to
applications such as the specific gravity measurements under low vapor pressures and density measurements
of hazardous fluids.

Fig: Pycnometric densitometers

Hydrometers
Hydrometers are the most commonly used devices for measurement of the density of liquids. They are so
commonly used that their specifications and procedure of use are described by national and international
standards, such as ISO 387. The buoyancy principle is used as the main technique of operation. The volume
of fixed mass is converted to a linear distance by a sealed bulb-shaped glass tube containing a long stem
measurement scale. The bulb is ballasted with a lead shot and pitch, the mass of which depends on the
density range of the liquid to be measured. The bulb is simply placed into the liquid and the density is read
from the scale. The scale is graduated in density units such as kg m –3

Fig: Hydrometer

Balance-type densitometers
These are suitable for liquid and gas density measurements. In this system, a self-centering, fixed-volume,
submerged plummet is used for density measurements.The plummet is located entirely under the liquid
surface. At balance, the plummet operates without friction and is not affected by surface contamination.
Under steady-state conditions, the plummet assumes a stable position. The effective weight of the chain on
the plummet
varies, depending on the position of the plummet, which in turn is a function of the density of the liquid.The
plummet contains a metallic transformer core that transmits changes in the position to be measured by a
pickup coil. The voltage differential, a function of plummet displacement, is calibrated as a measure of
variations in specific gravity. A resistance thermometer bridge is used for the compensation of temperature
effects on density.

Fig : Chain Balance Densitometer

Column-Type Densitometers
There are number of different versions of column methods. As a typical example, a reference column
method .A known head of sample liquid and water from the respective bubbler
pipes are used. A differential pressure measuring device compares the pressure differences, proportional to
relative densities of the liquid and the water. By varying the depth of immersion of the pipes, a wide range
of measurements can be obtained. Both columns must be maintained at the same temperature to avoid the
necessity for corrections of temperature effects.

Fig: Column-Type Densitometers

3. Densitometer for measurement of Gas density measurement

DISPLACEMENT-TYPE DENSITOMETERS:
The buoyant force exerted upon a body immersed in a gas is proportional to the density of that gas. If the gas
is at ambient conditions, the buoyant force is a measure of the molecular
weight or specific gravity of the sample. The principle is demonstrated in Figure. It consists
of a chamber containing a balance beam with a glass cylinder.

Fig : DISPLACEMENT-TYPE DENSITOMETERS:

CENTRIFUGAL GAS DENSITY SENSORS

The centrifugal detector also measures the gas density at flowing pressure and temperature conditions. As
shown in a small centrifugal blower operating at constant high speed (3000 to 13,000 r/min) extracts a small
sample of gas from a tank or pipeline. The impeller is driven by magnetic coupling to allow removal of the
driver and to prevent gas leakage. Gas enters the impeller at the center and is thrown outward by centrifugal
force. This action creates a
pressure differential across the impeller which is directly proportional to the gas density. The differential
pressure (d/p) can be indicated locally or used as the input signal into a d/p
transmitter for remote readout.
Fig : CENTRIFUGAL GAS DENSITY SENSORS

FLUID DYNAMIC DENSITOMETER

The fluid dynamic densitometer is used to measure the densities of gases and liquids. It is composed of two
chambers (A and B) each having a supply nozzle (Cr and Cm) and an opposing receiver port (Dr and Dm).
One chamberis used as a reference chamber having only a small outlet port; it is filled with a suitable supply
of nitrogen or other fluids (E) such that the dynamic pressure (Pr) of this jet onthe receiver port (Dr) serves
as a reference value. Directly adjacent to this reference chamber is a similar measuring chamber (B) that has
large inlet and outlet ports through which the measured fluid is pumped by the action of the same supply
fluid (E). The product whose density is to be measured, being entrained by this supply jet, affects the
dynamic pressure (Pm) of this jet on the receiver port, which is inversely proportional to the density. A
comparison of the pressure differential produced between the reference chamber and the measurement
pressure is a measure of the density of the unknown product.
The fluid dynamic densitometer can be used for measurement of density of process stream and effluents in
both liquids and gases. It has no moving parts, a very high sensitivity, anda high rate of response, but it is
not particularly suitable for non-Newtonian fluids. It can be made of a wide variety of materials and can be
mounted directly in a body or stream of fluid to give precise point measurements. Thus, petroleum and
petrochemical refineries, natural gas processing plants, ethylene production, chemical process plants, and the
pulp and paper industry are typical applications.

Fig : FLUID DYNAMIC DENSITOMETER

GAS COLUMN BALANCE SENSORS

As their name implies, these instruments operate on the principle
of measuring the difference in weight between a column of gas and a column of air of equal heights and
pressures.
The gas sample flows continuously to the interior of the oil-sealed working bell on the right and then leaves
the bell through a column of set height into the atmosphere. At the same time, dry air enters the interior of
the reference bell and exits to the atmosphere through a column of equal height. The weight of gas and air in
the columns exerts an upward force on the bells, and the difference in weight between the two columns is
the force, which causes the beam movement. Beam movement is resisted by the weight of a pendulum,
which allows the pen mechanism to move in direct ratio to the specific gravity of the gas flowing through
the unit.

Fig : GAS COLUMN BALANCE SENSORS

THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY DENSITY GAUGES

Thermal conductivity-type sensors areare most frequently used as analyzers
or as components in analyzer systems, their coverage here will be brief and limited to that design that is
suitable for direct specific gravity detection.A design that is suitable for both gas chromatography and on-
stream molecular weight determination.
A pneumatic Wheatstone bridge with two hot-wire detectors is mounted in the vertical plane. The reference
gas tends to cool the thermistors and, as long as the flow is balanced,
the two detectors are equally cooled. When a sample gas is introduced, it will upset the system balance if its
molecular weight is different from that of the reference gas. Zero balance is checked by introducing the
reference gas as sample.
If the sample gas is lighter than the reference gas, the sample molecules will tend to rise, partially
obstructing the reference gas flow at detector #1, and, therefore, causing a temperature rise at that point.
Simultaneously, a corresponding increase of reference gas flow will be experienced at detector #2, causing a
drop in temperature at that point. The temperature difference between the two thermistors is a measure of the
sample gas molecular weight.

Fig : THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY DENSITY GAUGES

 VISCOUS DRAG-TYPE DENSITY SENSORS
Another method of detecting the density of a gas relative to air (specific gravity or molecular weight) .The
unit consists of a sample chamber and an air chamber with a motor-driven impeller and an impulse wheel in
each. Impeller #1 draws in air and spins it against the vanes of impulse wheel #3, creating a clockwise
torque proportional to the air density. Impeller #2 draws in the gas sample and sets it in a counter clockwise
rotation. The whirling gas strikes the impulse wheel #4 and imparts a counter clockwise torque to its shaft
proportional to the gas density. The difference between the opposing torques is a measure of the sample
specific gravity. It is transmitted through a lever and linkage arrangement to the pointer, which moves in
front of the scale, which is calibrated in specific gravity, molecular weight, or percent concentration units.

Fig : VISCOUS DRAG-TYPE DENSITY SENSORS

Applications:

 Densitometers are used for measuring color saturation by print professionals

 Calibration of printing equipment.
 They are used in industrial radiography to ensure x-ray films are within code-required density ranges.
 They are also used to compare relative material thicknesses.
 Densitometer are used for process control of density dot gain, dot area &ink trapping
 Densitometer reading will be different types of printing process &substrate.
 To determine concentration& composition of process steam.
 To get calorific value of fuels
 For conversion of volumetric flow to mass flow
 To assess the quality of substances
 It serves as one of the Molecular tools for gene study, to quantify the radioactivity of a compound such as
radiolabeled DNA.They are also used for making adjustments so that outputs are consistent with the colors
desired in the finished products
 

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