These are analytical techniques that are used to measure scattered light.

When
electromagnetic radiation (light) strikes on a particle in solution, some of the light will be
absorbed by the particle, some will be transmitted through the solution and some of the
light will be scattered or reflected. The amount of light scattered is proportional to the
concentration of insoluble particle.

Turbidimetry deals with measurement of Intensity of transmitted light and its

measurements are made at 1800 from the incident light beam (shown in Figure 1). On the
other hand, nephelometry deals with measurement of intensity of the scattered light,
usually at right angles to incident light beam (shown in Figure 2). Since the amount of
scattered light is far greater than the transmitted light in a turbid suspension,
nephelometry offers higher sensitivity than turbidimetry.

Monochromator Photomultiplier Meter

Light source Cuvettes
tube

Figure 1. Schematic diagram of a turbidimeter

Cuvettes

Light source Monochromator

Detector, nephelometer
forward light scatter

Detector nephelometer
90° light scatter

Meter

Figure 2. Schematic diagram of a nephelometer