How to Use a Refractometer: Practical Guide

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November 2, 2021

This article is dedicated to the proper way of using a refractometer. Let us begin by
defining what it is.

What Is a Refractometer?

A refractometer is used to determine a concentration of a particular substance within a

given solution. It operates based on the principle of refraction. When rays of light pass
from one medium into another, they are bent either toward or away from a normal line
between the two media.

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The angle between the normal ray and the incident ray is called the angle of incidence.
The angle between the normal ray and the refracted ray is called the angle of refraction.
The Figure below demonstrates this using a pencil resting in a container of water. As you
can see, the light ray passes from the air into the water and is bent toward the normal ray
or the angle of incidence.

The angle of refraction is related to an index value called the index of refraction. Each
compound has a specific index of refraction. The angle of refraction is dependent on the
composition of the media and on the temperature. This composition dependency is what
makes refractometers so useful. As the concentration of a particular compound in a
solution increases, so does the degree to which the light is bent. Also, it is important to
determine the temperature of the testing environment since temperature affects the angle
of refraction.

An example for How to Use a Refractometer

As an example, refractive light can be used to determine the sodium chloride (NaCl)
concentration/salinity in a brine solution. For each percent salinity value, there is a
corresponding angle of refraction. That angle of refraction is converted to percent salinity.
This percentage is the concentration of NaCl in the brine solution. To make the
conversion easier, refractometers are available with scales that are calibrated to read the
desired value, in this case, percent salinity.

The concentration of a coolant, cleaner or other aqueous solution is usually determined in

the field with the use of a handheld refractometer.  The range of the refractometer must
cover that expected by the diluted solution.  If the dilute solution is too concentrated for
the refractometer that is being used, a further dilution of the fluid can be made and the
appropriate factors applied.

Equipment

0-16 or 0-32 range (Brix) handheld refractometer

Clean tap or distilled water
Clean Lint Free Tissue
Dropper Pipette

Refractometer Brix scale

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How to Use a Refractometer: Simplified Measurement Method

1. Using a dropper pipette, transfer one or two drops of room temperature water to the
prism (clear glass) of the refractometer and close the cover plate.  The sample must
spread all over the prism surface.
2. Look at the scale through the eyepiece and read the scale where the boundary line
intercepts it.
3. Set the boundary line to read zero by using the adjusting screw for calibration.
4. Wipe the prism clean with a clean lint free tissue.
5. Using a dropper pipette, transfer one or two drops of the system coolant sump to
the prism (clear glass) of the refractometer and close the cover plate.  The sample
must spread all over the prism surface.  Do not dip the refractometer into the
coolant sump. Do not place the refractometer under a coolant stream.  Not following
these directions can damage the refractometer prism and calibration.
6. Look at the scale through the eyepiece and read the scale where the boundary line
intercepts it.
7. Wipe the prism clean with a clean lint free tissue and water.

How to Use a Refractometer: Concentration Control

Use of a 0 to 10 or a 0 to 32 refractometer is suggested to manage coolant
concentration.  Use the control chart for the coolant in question to determine the
appropriate refractometer reading for the concentration that you desire.  If a coolant
control chart is not available use the refractometer factor to determine the concentration
of the fluid.  If not factor or control chart are available contact your sales representative on
how to determine your coolant concentration.

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How to Use a Refractometer: Types of Refractometers
Handheld Analog Refractometer With an analog refractometer, the sample is placed on
a cover plate and a prism and then held to the light to view the scale inside the meter.

Handheld Digital Refractometer Digital refractometers require a drop of the tested

solution to be placed in a well. That well is illuminated by a light source, usually an LED
light and the meter interprets the light transmission into refractive index or whatever unit
of measure the instrument is programmed to read.

Abbe (Laboratory) Refractometer Abbe Refractometers are bench-top meters that look

similar to a microscope which provide highly precise measurements of refractive index.

How to Use a Refractometer: Various Scales

Refractometers are available with a variety of scales:

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 Salinity: Measures sodium chloride solutions
Brix: Measures percent sucrose. Used in the food and beverage industry for quality
control
Coolant: Freezing Point Determines the effectiveness of ethylene glycol and
propylene glycol coolants
Clinical: Measures Serum albumen and urine-specific gravity (e.g. to test for urine
drug sample tampering)
Specific Gravity: Measures density of a liquid in relation to the density of water,
which has a specific gravity of 1.

How to Use a Refractometer: Calibration and Use of Analog

Refractometers
1. Calibrate the refractometer with a standard solution before use. Since the reading
will be affected by temperature changes, it is best to calibrate at the temperature of
the test environment. If this is not possible, correction charts may be used. Some
refractometers have automatic temperature correction (ATC), a feature that allows
the instrument to automatically correct for temperature differences.
2. Place a small amount of liquid (usually 2–5 drops) on the prism and secure the
cover plate. This will evenly distribute the liquid on the prism.
3. Point the prism end of the refractometer toward a light source and focus the
eyepiece until the scale is clearly visible.
4. Read the scale value at the point where the dark and light portions meet. Below is
an example of a salinity scale as seen through the eyepiece:

How to Use a Refractometer: Commonly Asked Questions

Q: I need to test the concentration of lubricating oil but I have a Brix refractometer.
Can I use it?

A: Yes, you can use it if the refractive range is similar. In this case, you need to prepare
known samples of the lubricating oil and determine the corresponding Brix values. From
this data, a chart can be created to convert from the Brix value to the percent oil value.

Q: How do I maintain a refractometer?

A: Refractometers require very little maintenance. When the measurement is complete,

wipe the prism with a soft lens tissue. When the instrument is not in use, keep the cover
closed to avoid scratching the prism.

See the video below

How to use a Refractometer – YouTube

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