Innovations in pH and conductivity meters

• Grant number: 04/02473-4
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: March 01, 2005
• End date: November 30, 2005
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Santos Demetrio Miranda Borjas
• Grantee: Santos Demetrio Miranda Borjas
• Company: Anatech Equipamentos de Medição e Controle Ltda
• City: São Paulo
• Associated scholarship(s): 04/14167-5 - Innovations in pH and conductivity meters, BP.PIPE

Abstract

This research aims to develop a pH and conductivity meter in a single device for use in the field (environmental analysis) and laboratory. The choice of this project is based on the existing deficient technology in the Brazilian market in the manufacture of this type of equipment and in the experience of the members of the team in analytical instrumentation. Owing to environmental legislation, globalization and current quality norms, there has been a growing increase in imports of these instruments.As a consequence, in addition to the high cost of laboratorial analyses, a deficit in the country’s trade balance has been noted in this segment. The equipment to be developed should have an extremely accurate measuring system (1 per cent full-scale accuracy or better), and the ability to store data with date and time of acquisition to generate reports on printers or computer. The equipment should include innovations such as automatic detection of more than one type of temperature sensor; rechargeable batteries; recall of last adjusted temperature value for pH manual compensation; and conductivity, in this respect, surpassing imported models. The equipment will have guaranteed application in the chemical industry and principally, in laboratories and institutions engaged in environmental monitoring. (AU)