Fundamentals of Color

Measurement
ISA NorCal TECH May 2
Bill Deutschlander
WorleyParsons 925-313-5628
 Spectrum of Light
Microwave Visible X-Ray

Radio Wave Infrared (IR) Ultraviolet Gamma Ray

-1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8 -9 -10 -11 -12 -13

10 1 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

Green
Yellow Blue
Orange Indigo
Red Violet
Near Infrared Ultraviolet
3um 2um 1um 700nm 400nm 200nm
 Spectrum of Color measurement
100 206 400 700 1100 Wavelength
(nm)
Ultraviolett Visible Light Near Infrared
(UV) (VIS) (NIR)

385 430 550 620 670

Yellow red blue green = color of liquid
 Color Scales and Terms

• APHA - American Public Health Assoc., Hazen

Standard
• ASTM – American Society for Testing and Materials,
Hazen and SayBolt Standards
• EBC – European Brewery Convention; 430 nm, 1 cm
• Hazen – Unit of the Color Standard Scale for
APHA/ASTM. Also know as Pt-Co.
• Saybolt – Color Scale unit for Petroleum Products
based upon visual comparison of Optical Filters
 Photometry - Principles
Absorption of light:

I0 IR

Scattering of light:

IS

I0 ID
Absorption - Lambert Beer´s Law I

I = I0 ·exp[-ε ·c ·d]
I0 I

T = I / I0

A: Absorbance
T: Transmission
ε: Molar decading coefficient
A = – log T = ε ·c · d of absorption (l / mol*cm)
c: Concentration of absorbing
substance (mol / l)
d: optical path length (OPL) (cm)
Absorption - Lambert Beer´s Law II
Units of Absorption:

A = – log T = ε ·c · d

A: Absorbance
E: Extinction (Europe)
AU: Absorbance Units
CU: Concentration Units OD = A / OPLcm
(competitor)

OD: Optical Density

Absorption - Lambert Beer´s Law III
100 5
90 Absorbance

80 4

70
% Transmission

Absorbance (A)
60 % Transmission 3

50

40 2

30

20 1

10

0 0
Concentration
Absorption - Lambert Beer´s Law IV

Absorbance Transmission
(CU) (%)

0 100
0,5 32
1 10
A = -log T 2 1
3 0,1
4 0,01
 Absorption - Different Colors
0,4

Gelb/Yellow
Rot/Red
Blau/Blue

0,3
Sig n al ( C U )

0,2

0,1

0,0
350 400 450 500 550 600 650 700
Wellenlänge / Wavelength (nm)
 Color Analysis, e.g. APHA
500 APHA
5 cm cuvette 4

Absorbance
3
2
1
0
380 430 480 530 580
50 APHA
0,5
5 cm cuvette
Absorbance

0,4
0,3
0,2
0,1
0,0
380 430 480 530 580
Wavelength (nm)
 Color Analysis
Single Beam
Absorption:

A = ε ·c · d

Dual Beam A = Ameas - Aref

Absorption: Aref

Ameas
Color Analysis - Comparison Single
and Dual Beam
Color Intensity

Aref

Ameas

Single Beam Absorption: Dual Beam Absorption:

• No Turbidity • Compensation of turbidity

• No Bubbles • Compensation of bubbles

• Significant color changes • High sensitivity

• Compensation of lamp aging

Color Analysis - Typical Apps Single
and Dual Beam
Aref

Ameas

• Phase separation: • Color dosage

- Beer / Water • Quality control / Purity (absence of color)
- Wine / Water • Decolorization control
- Juice / Water • Color scales: APHA, Hazen, EBC, ASBC, ASTM,
- Hemoglobin ICUMSA, Lovibond
concentration in blood • Concentration of inks / colorants
• Residual color in waste water
• Metals in solution: Iron, copper, nickel, chromium
• Huminic matter in drinking water
• Chlorophyll in edible oil
• Bleaching of edible oil, sugar syrup...
• Lignin in hydrosulforic acid
• Dissolved water in organics
• Phase separation: organic and aqueous phase
• Chlorine / chlorine dioxide / hypochlorite
 Color Analyzer Manufacturers

• Ametek Process Instruments Model 4000

• Galvanic Applied Sciences Monitek Monispec AD
• Optek Model AF26
• Sigrist ColorPlus
• Wedgewood Analytical Model AF21, AF22
Ametek Model 4000
GAS Monitek Monispec AD
Optek Control 4000/AF26
Sigrist ColorPlus
Wedgewood Analytical
980/AF21,AF22