(→results) |
(→EMD's respose) |
||
| Line 43: | Line 43: | ||
I sent these results to EMD and wanted to get an input on these findings. Here is the e-mail that I got back: | I sent these results to EMD and wanted to get an input on these findings. Here is the e-mail that I got back: | ||
| − | |||
Based on the information below, I am assuming that you are using the | Based on the information below, I am assuming that you are using the | ||
4-7 clorpHast pH parer, part number 9582. The sensitivity of the part | 4-7 clorpHast pH parer, part number 9582. The sensitivity of the part | ||
| Line 51: | Line 50: | ||
in the field and pH meter is not easily accessible. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact me. | in the field and pH meter is not easily accessible. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact me. | ||
| − | D. S. | + | D. S. |
| − | Technical Service Rep | + | Technical Service Rep |
| − | EMD Chemicals | + | EMD Chemicals |
| − | 1-800-xxx-xxx | + | 1-800-xxx-xxx |
| − | + | ||
| − | |||
Revision as of 13:06, 7 March 2007
Taste problems in my beers after I moved to a new house, had to use new water and started measuring mash pH with EMD's colorpHast strips prompted me to compare tha pH determined by the pH strips with the pH measured by a pH meter. Though I later found that the taste problems had more to do with the hops I used I discovered an unexpected systematic error for the pH read from the pH strips which was also confirmed in an e-mail from EMD.
Contents
set-up
For the test 10 pH buffer solutions were mixed using the 4.01 and 7.01 calibration buffers that are sold by morebeer (MT610). The pH of these buffer solutions was chosen to match the pH values on colorpHast's color scale. The pH strips (MT629) and the pH meter (MT601) were purchased at morebeer.com
experiment
The pH meter was calibrated and each of the pH buffer samples were measured with the pH meter and the colorpHast strips. All measurements were taken at room temperature (70 *F / 20 *C). The colorpHast strips were submerged for 5 seconds until the color didn't change anymore. Leaving them in longer than that didn't change their reading. The strips color was matched against the provided color scale in tungsten light. The color that matched the strips color best was chosen as the reading and when a color seemed to fall between 2 colors the pH was read as the avarage of the pH given for the 2 colors on the color scale.
results
| targeted buffer pH | actual buffer pH measured with pH meter | pH measured with colorpHast strips | difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 (4.01 buffer) | 4.0 | 4.0 | ~ 0.0 |
| 4.4 | 4.38 | 4.0 | ~ -0.4 |
| 4.7 | 4.70 | 4.4 | ~ -0.3 |
| 5.0 | 5.01 | 4.7 | ~ -0.3 |
| 5.3 | 5.32 | 5.0 | ~ -0.3 |
| 5.5 | 5.50 | 5.15 * | ~ -0.3 |
| 5.8 | 5.78 | 5.5 | ~ -0.3 |
| 6.1 | 6.14 | 5.8 | ~ -0.3 |
| 6.5 | 6.47 | 6.3* | ~ -0.2 |
| 7.0 (7.01 buffer) | 7.0 | 7.0 | ~ 0.0 |
- ) these samples read between 2 colors
The resuls show that the strips that were used in this experiment show a systematic error of about 0.3 pH units which meas that a mash which measures 5.3 with the strips is actually at pH 5.6. The subsequent lautering can be higher and can easily exceed the 5.8 maxium pH for tannin safe sparging
EMD's respose
I sent these results to EMD and wanted to get an input on these findings. Here is the e-mail that I got back:
Based on the information below, I am assuming that you are using the 4-7 clorpHast pH parer, part number 9582. The sensitivity of the part number is 0.2-0.3 pH units. A pH meter will always be more accurate than the pH trips ecause the meter will eliminate any human error in determining color. Because of the possibility of human error, the strips are consider semi-quantitative but are more convenient that a pH meter when testing in the field and pH meter is not easily accessible. If you need further assistance, feel free to contact me.
D. S. Technical Service Rep EMD Chemicals 1-800-xxx-xxx [email protected]
