pH Analyzer Interview Questions and Answers

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pH Analyzer Interview Questions Answers

pH Analyzers

What is pH?

pH is a measure of the acidity and alkalinity properties of an aqueous solution, which are determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) in the solution.

Water has the molecular formula of H₂O and almost always exists in the stable molecular state of H₂O.

However, a small proportion also exists in the form of ions known as hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxyl ions (OH^–), and the balance between these hydrogen ions and hydroxyl ions determines the pH.

The solution becomes acidic if there are many hydrogen ions, while it is alkaline if there are many hydroxyl ions.

Because the product of hydrogen ions (H⁺) and hydroxyl ions (OH^–) is constant in any aqueous solution at the same temperature, by measuring the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) it is possible to determine the degree of acidity or alkalinity.

Generally, pH is defined as:

pH = -log₁₀［H⁺］

The hydrogen ion concentration of a neutral solution is mol/L, that of a 1/10 mol/L HCl solution is mol/L, and that of a 1/10 mol/L NaOH solution is mol/L, which are very small and inconvenient for practical use. Therefore, the inverse of the hydrogen ion concentration represented as a common logarithm is used as the pH.

For a neutral solution, the pH is 7 because [H⁺] = ; for a 1/10 mol/L HCl solution, the pH is 1 because [H⁺] = ; and for a 1/10 mol/L NaOH solution, the pH is 13 because [H⁺] = .

How is pH measured?

Several methods of measuring pH have been developed and upgraded.

Currently, the glass electrode method is most often used in various fields.

1	Indicator method :
	The indicator method uses litmus papers or reagents such as methyl orange and phenolphthalein solutions and is old and simple way of measuring pH. This method has a long history and is easy to use; however, there are various errors and inaccuracies.
2	Hydrogen electrode method :
	A platinum electrode on which hydrogen gas is adequately adsorbed, is called a hydrogen electrode. Placing this electrode in a test solution generates a potential corresponding to the hydrogen ion concentration (to be precise, the hydrogen ion activity) of the solution, and thus the pH of the test solution can be determined. This hydrogen electrode method is to directly measure the hydrogen ion activity and is used as one of the standard pH measurement methods today. However, it is not used as an industrial standard because it requires hydrogen gas that has an explosion risk, its operation is troublesome, and furthermore, it may involve a sodium ion error and other errors.
3	Quinhydrone electrode method :
	This method is to determine the pH from the potential difference between the two electrodes: a platinum electrode and a reference electrode. A small amount of quinhydrone is added to a test solution and after vigorous stirring, two electrodes are immersed in the solution to determine the potential difference. This method utilizes the fact that dissolving quinhydrone in a solution changes the ratio of benzoquinone to hydroquinone depending on the pH of the solution, thereby changing the potential difference. It is simple, but it can apply only to a test solution with pH 8 or less and cannot be used when a test solution contains oxidizing or reducing substances. Because of these application limitations, now this method is almost out of use.
4	Antimony electrode method :
	In the antimony electrode method, an antimony rod with a polished tip is immersed into a test solution together with the reference electrode to obtain pH based on the potential difference between the antimony rod and reference electrode. This method is no longer used often with the exception of certain applications (where accuracy is not required when measuring a solution containing fluorine) because the reading varies depending on the condition of the polished electrode and reproducibility is poor.
5	Glass electrode method :
	If two solutions with different pH exist separately on two sides of a thin glass membrane, a potential difference develops between the two sides, which are proportional to the difference in pH of the two solutions. This method of measuring pH is often used due to advantages such as the potential quickly reaches equilibrium, good reproducibility, and little effects of an oxidizing or reducing substance. “Methods of pH Measurement” also specifies that the applicable scope is limited to the “method of measurement by a pH meter using a glass electrode.”

Principle of pH measurement using a glass electrode

Measurement of pH using a glass electrode makes use of the potential difference developed between the two sides of a thin glass membrane that separates two solutions with different pH.

This potential difference is proportional to the difference in pH of the two solutions.

As shown in the figure below, container G made of a thin glass membrane is filled with solution B with known pH and container G is immersed in solution A. Potentials develop on both sides of the glass membrane.

By immersing electrodes E1 and E2 in solutions A and B, respectively, the potential difference between the two electrodes can be determined with voltmeter V and thus the voltage developed on the glass membrane can be known.

Generally, when the temperature of the solutions is 25℃, if the pHs of two solutions differs by 1, an emf of approx. 59 mV is produced.

What is temperature compensation of pH meters?

The emf generated by a pH sensor changes depending on the temperature of the test solution. This is because the potential generated on the glass membrane of the pH sensor is proportional to absolute temperature T as represented by Nernst’s equation.

Temperature compensation is done to compensate these temperature-based changes in the emf with the pH analyzer (or pH transmitter) so that it is independent of temperature.

Note that this temperature compensation is unrelated to changes in the pH value of a test solution caused by temperature.

Some pH meters measure temperature with an RTD incorporated in a pH sensor to automatically conduct temperature compensation of the generated emf of the pH sensor.

What is temperature compensation (reference temperature conversion) of a test solution ?

For general pH measurements, changes in the pH value of a test solution caused by temperature will not be compensated.

However, for deionized water measurement, the temperature of a test solution may be compensated independently of the temperature compensation of a pH sensor.

The pH sensor for high-purity water measures the temperature using the RTD incorporated in the pH sensor and can perform the temperature compensation of the emf generated by the sensor and the temperature compensation of a test solution simultaneously.

What is alkaline error ?

In the alkaline region of pH10 or more, the emf of a glass electrode deviates from the linear value on the alkaline side. This is called the “alkaline error.”

Because the magnitude of the alkaline error varies depending on the glass membrane compositions, a glass electrode for high alkalinity should be used if the pH sensor is used in the alkaline region.

However, this does not guarantee that the alkaline error is eliminated.

What is acid error ?

The acid error occurring in the region of pH3 or less depends on the glass membrane composition and the types of acids.

Once a glass electrode has acid error, it cannot be restored quickly even by immersing it in a neutral solution; recovery takes a considerable time.

However, the acid error is small compared to the alkaline error and so is unimportant for practical use.

How is a pH analyzer calibrated with the standard solution ?

To perform pH measurement, the pH meter must always be calibrated using the standard solution.

The general calibration method is “two-point calibration” which is performed using two types of pH standard solution, but the simple “one-point calibration” is conducted using one type of pH standard solution.

As it is also called a “buffer solution,” a pH standard solution has the property (buffer action) of protecting against the addition of an acid or base and minimizing pH changes.

The types of pH standard solutions and pH values at each temperature are specified in “Methods of pH Measurement.”

What is zero calibration (asymmetry potential adjustment) ?

The interior of a glass electrode is filled with a pH7 solution. If the glass electrode is immersed in a pH7 solution, the potential difference should be 0 mV because identical buffer solutions are present on both sides of the membrane of the glass electrode.

In practice, a potential develops due to the strain caused during glass production, shape, glass compositions, or other factors. This is called the “asymmetry potential.”

The asymmetry potential also occurs due to contamination of the internal solution of the reference electrode, dryness of or clogging in the liquid junction, etc. in addition to the glass electrode.

To eliminate this asymmetry potential, a pH sensor is zero calibrated using the pH7 standard solution (pH standard solution of neutral phosphate).

What is span adjustment (electric potential gradient adjustment) ?

Actually, the emf per pH of a glass electrode is not always equal to the value of 2.3026RT/F in the Nernst equation.

Therefore, a pH meter requires compensation for small differences from the theoretical slope of potential, which can be done by adjustment using a pH 4 or pH 9 standard solution. This is called span adjustment.

How should pH standard solutions be stored, and for how long ?

Prepared standard solutions should be stored in hermetically sealed, high-quality hard glass or polyethylene containers. The pH value of the standard solution may change(Note) after long-term storage.

Before using a standard solution that has been stored for a long time after preparation, compare its pH with that of a freshly prepared standard solution and ensure that they are the same.

Moreover, a pH standard solution must never be used once it has been left to the atmosphere.

Note: For example, borate and carbonate pH standard solutions may absorb CO₂ and other substances in the atmosphere and their pH values may decrease.

What are the conditions of a test solution?

The ranges of test solution temperature and test solution pressure vary depending on the types of pH sensor, holder type, and holder material.

What is the ORP analyzer, and what is it used for ?

ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) refers to the potential that arises due to electron movement at the time of oxidation and reduction. It is also called Redox (Reduction Oxidation Potential).

In this process, a variety of chemical reactions are used for refinement, removal, separation and the like, and oxidation reduction is one of these reactions.

The ORP value is an effective index for process management such as detecting the end of a reaction. The major applications include water discharge for plating, removal of chlorine gas, sewage treatment and the like.

What does pH measure?

What tips can you give for pH buffer use?

• Standardisation should be performed with fresh buffer solutions.
• Buffers used should bracket the range of pH for the samples being tested.
• Buffers should be at the same temperature as the samples. (For example; if all your samples are at 50°C, warm your buffers to 50°C using a beaker in a water bath.)
• Buffer values are dependent upon temperature. The following table lists the NIST values of pH buffers at various temperatures.

Table of NIST Values of pH Buffers at Various Temperatures

How can I get reliable pH measurements?

Here are some basic steps that will help you get better, more reliable pH measurements:

• Soak new electrodes before use! A 50/50 mixture of pH 4 buffer and saturated potassium chloride is an excellent soak solution.
• Reference electrode frits must be free-flowing to allow internal solution to make contact with the sample solution. Maintain the frit in a clean condition.
• Use fresh buffers for calibration
• Temperature impacts electrode performance. Use temperature compensation, or keep all samples and standards at the same temperature.
• Calibrate frequently

What is automatic temperature compensation (ATC)?

The Solution Temperature Effect

• When there is an increase or decrease in the temperature of a solution, the pH of the solution can change. This change is not an error caused by the variation in temperature; it is the true pH of the solution at the new temperature. Since this is not an error, there is no need to correct or compensate for the solution temperature effect.
• The pH Electrode Temperature Effect
• There is only one major temperature effect in pH measurement that can cause errors in readings. This is the change in the electrode’s response (or sensitivity) to pH which results from changes in the samples temperature. It is the only reasonably predictable error due to changes in temperature, and is the only temperature related factor that pH instruments with temperature compensation can correct for. This temperature error is very close to 0.003 pH/°C/pH unit away from pH 7. If a sample is measured without using an automatic temperature probe, the solutions temperature needs to be entered into the meter manually to allow it to account for this error.

How should an electrode be stored when not in use?

• Electrodes should be stored in electrode storage solution (025 192) between readings and for short–term storage. If storage solution is not readily available, liquid–filled electrodes can be stored in pH 4.0 buffer solution. To return an electrode to long term storage, prepare it in the same condition in which you received it; usually, this means simply moistening and replacing the end cap of gel–filled electrodes to protect and keep the sensing membrane active. To store liquid–filled reference and combination electrodes, refill with electrolyte, cover the fill hole, and moisten and replace the protective plastic cap.
• Important note: Never store an electrode in distilled or deionised water. This may lead to slow, sluggish response.

How should a pH electrode be cleaned?

• A dirty glass membrane is usually indicated by beads of water forming on the bulb when it’s rinsed with distilled water.
• The bulb can be cleaned as follows:
• For protein layers, soak in a freshly prepared solution of 1% pepsin in 0.1N HCl for 30 minutes.
• For inorganic deposits, wash with a 1M EDTA solution, 2M ammonia, or 2M acid.
• For grease and similar films, wash with acetone, methanol, etc.

How should an electrode be reconditioned?

Prolonged use, excessive alkaline immersion, or high-temperature operation will cause surface leaching of the membrane glass.

The result is extremely noisy and/or sluggish response, which cannot be remedied simply by cleaning the electrode. If this occurs, the following procedures will often provide stability and pH sensitivity.

Always consider the electrode’s materials of construction before using these procedures.

1. Empty the reference chamber, rinse with deionised water, empty and refill with the specified filling solution.
2. Soak the electrode in hot (50°C – 60°C) reference electrolyte for a few minutes.
3. Soak the electrode overnight in pH 4 buffer.
4. Remove any exterior salt deposits with distilled water.
5. If the filling solution does not flow through the junction by this time (generally due to an unusually low junction porosity), use gentle suction to pull filling solution through the junction and repeat from step 2.

6. Sometimes the material clogging the junction requires more severe action. Should the above fail, proceed as follows:

• a. Use a solvent specific to the solution or material plugging the junction, if possible.
  b. Soak the membrane overnight in 0.1 M HCI.
  c. If measurements have been made in samples containing protein, remove protein deposits by soaking the electrode bulb in 0.1 M HCl containing 1% pepsin.
  d. Repeat from step 1.
• If all these fail, the electrode should be discarded safely and replaced.

Note: Above mentioned pH Sensor Values or Parameters may change from vendor to vendor

Also Read: Humidity Sensor Working Principle