2012 pH Meters Product Survey Results
In the mid-1930s, Arnold Beckman created one of the first commercial pH meters— made originally to measure the acidity of lemons.
In the mid-1930s, Arnold Beckman created one of the first commercial pH meters— made originally to measure the acidity of lemons. Then an assistant professor of chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, he started selling his device as the Model G acidimeter, later known simply as the Model G pH meter. This work led him to start Beckman Instruments, known today as Beckman Coulter, which continues to make pH meters. Today, though, pH meters provide many features beyond those of the Model G. A meter is only one part of a pH system, because an appropriate electrode is crucial to the application. For example, if you are measuring samples with high solids or samples that are low in ionic strength, the pH electrode design will influence the overall system accuracy, maintenance schedule, and the expected life of the electrode. In general, today’s pH meters fall into one of three general categories: testers, “portable,” and benchtop.
Types of pH meters our readers are currently using or planning to buy for their labs:
| Currently Using | Planning to Purchase | |
| Benchtop pH Meter | 53% | 4% |
| Handheld pH Meter | 22% | 4% |
| In-line pH Meter | 8% | 2% |
| Tester pH Meter | 3% | 2% |
| Other | 2% | 0% |
Thirteen percent of the respondents are using a solid state sensor pH Meter while another six percent are planning to make a purchase.
The methods for measuring pH survey respondents use in their labs:
| Glass-electrode method | 58% |
| Indicator methods | 23% |
| Metal-electrode methods | 9% |
| Hydrogen-electrode method | 8% |
| Quinhydron-electrode method | 1% |
| Antimony-electrode method | 1% |
| Other | 1% |
The weighing applications respondents are using their lab balances for:
| Pipette Calibration | 25% |
| Differential Weighting | 22% |
| Dynamic Weighing | 21% |
| Mass Comparison | 19% |
| Filter Weighting | 11% |
| Other | 3% |
Seventy-two percent of lab professionals using pH meters are very satisfied with their products and have no issues.
Lab professionals using pH meters who are experiencing some problems identified the following challenges:
| Frequent re-calibration | 24% |
| Temperature-dependent | 13% |
| Fragile—constant wearing and breaking of glass electrodes | 12% |
| Unreliable/inaccurate measurement | 9% |
| Maintenance-intensive | 6% |
| Limited field applicability | 4% |
| Other | 2% |
| High labor costs | 1% |
| Limited battery life | 1% |
The top 10 factors/features our readers look for when buying a pH meter:
For more information on pH meters, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/ph-meters Completed Surveys: 312 |