1.

6 CARE AND ADJUSTMENT OF APPARATUS:

DENSITY METERS – 1999
ABSTRACT
The measurement of the density and the defined density derived values of a liquid at 20 °C by digital density
meters of the oscillation type.

Refer to Section 0 (Safety) for relevant warning and safety precautions.

1 SCOPE
The measurement of the density and the defined density derived values of a liquid at 20 °C by digital density
meters of the oscillation type.

2 FIELD OF APPLICATION
The method can be applied to all liquids provided that they remain in the liquid phase without change of
composition during sample handling and density determination.

3 REFERENCE
International Standard, Water for Analytical Laboratory Use, Specification and Test Methods, ISO 3696, 1987
(E).

4 DEFINITIONS
4.1 True density: the mass of a substance divided by its volume and usually expressed in g/cm 3 or kg/m3. The
true density of water at 20 °C is (0,9982071 g/cm3 or 998,2071 kg/m3 and the true density of dry air at 1
atmosphere (1013 mbar) is 1,2046 kg/m3.

4.2 Apparent density: the weight of a substance, when compared to steel weights, divided by its volume and
expressed in g/ml. The apparent density of water at 20 °C is 0,99715 g/ml.

4.3 Specific gravity: the density of a substance at 20 "C divided by density of an equal volume of water at 20
°C. Air has a specific gravity of 0,001208 and water has a specific gravity of 1,0000 at 20 °C. Specific gravity has
no units.

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4.4 Apparent specific gravity (S.G.): the apparent density of the sample at 20 °C divided by the apparent density
of water at 20 °C. Air has an apparent specific gravity of 0,0000 and water has an apparent specifc gravity of
1,0000 at 20 °C. Apparent specific gravity has no units.

5 PRINCIPLE
5.1 A small (typically less than 1 ml) portion of the test sample is introduced into a temperature controlled
sample tube.

5.2 The oscillation frequency of the tube or the oscillation period is measured and recorded.

5.3 The density of the test sample is calculated using cell constants previously determined by measuring the
oscillation frequencies or oscillation periods when the cell is filled with calibration fluids of known densities,
usually distilled water and air.

5.4 The instrument is calibrated to read out directly in either true density and other density related values at
20 °C (see 4) or other values, e.g. extract in % m/m or % (on the basis of sucrose) or alcohol in % m/m or % vol,
respectively.

6 REAGENTS
6.1 Water conforming to ISO 3696 Grade 2 or better, with an electrical conductivity not greater than 100
µS/cm at 20 °C.

6.2 Ethanol for drying the cell.

6.3 Detergent for cleaning, as recommended by the instrument manufacturer.

6.4 Reference liquids obtainable from national bodies.

7 APPARATUS
7.1 Digital density meter. An uncertainty of measurement of either 0,00001 g/ml (6 figure instruments) or
0,0001 g/ml (5 figure instruments) is recommended. The instruments are usually supported by a built ̶ in
processor. It takes care for sample temperature and correct calibration.

7.2 Automatic sampler for density meter and sample containers with lids. Or, for manual injection of the
sample, a hypodermic syringe with a plastic tip, at least 2 ml capacity.

7.3 Thermostatically controlled circulating water bath, if required, capable of maintaining temperature control
to a constant temperature of 20 °C ± 0,02 °C, or equivalent means of temperature control e.g. Peltier
thermostat.

7.4 Calibrated temperature sensor, capable of measuring the temperature of the cell to ±0,01 °C with a
measurement accuracy of ±0,1 °C or better.

7.5 Folded filter paper, Schleicher & Schuell 597 1/2 or equivalent.

7.6 Filter funnels.

7.7 Conical flasks.

8 PREPARATION OF SAMPLES
8.1 Special preparation of samples must be observed. See the relevant sections (wort, beer, etc).

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9 PROCEDURE
9.1 Calibration

9.1.1 Calibrate density meters using water and dry air when first installed, whenever maintenance is
carried out, or if the system is disturbed in any way.

9.1.2 Set up the density meter and circulating water bath, as appropriate to the instrument type,
according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Adjust the temperature control so that a constant
temperature of 20 °C ± 0,02 °C is established and maintained at the sample cell.

9.1.3 Clean the cell and calibrate the instrument with air and water according to the manufacturer’s
instructions.

9.2 Determination

9.2.1 Before each day’s use, verify the instrument calibration with attemperated distilled water and
air ensuring that the displayed values are the same as those used in the calibration ±0,00003 (6 figure
instruments) or ±0,0001 (5 figure instruments).

9.2.2 If the value displayed is outside the limits, clean and dry the cell and repeat the check. lf the
reading still differs, recalibrate the density meter.

9.2.3 Fill the U-tube with the sample, taking care to avoid the introduction of any bubbles. If injecting
samples manually, tap the syringe frequently when filling it with the sample, then invert and expel any
air bubbles.

9.2.4 Run the samples in duplicate in order that errors due to bubble formation are detected. Also,
introduce reference liquids to monitor system performance.

9.2.5 The chosen display value of the sample will be displayed once equilibrium has been reached.

9.2.6 Remove the sample from the tube. Never use the air pump to remove the sample from the tube
since this can result in residues of the sample being dried onto the walls of the tube.

10 EXPRESSION OF RESULTS
10.1 Calculation

10.1.1 Record the chosen display values as true density or other density related values to 5 or 4 places
of decimals (6 figure and 5 figure instruments, respectively) or other values according to the samples
to be tested.

10.2 Precision

10.2.1 Precision values determined by the IOB Analysis Committee in 1995 when 23 laboratories
analysed 2 solutions of sugar in water, 3 samples of beer and 2 solutions of ethanol in water, using
either a 5 or 6 figure instrument are given below (Ref, 11.3) as a guideline.

10.2.2 For aqueous sugar solutions it was noted that the precision value increased with increasing
concentration.

10.2.3 Instruments with a 5 figure display (S.G.) (n = 4):

Range r95 R95

Ethanol 0,9946 - 0,9991 0,0001 0,0003
Beer 0,9991 - 1,0170 0,0001 0,0009
Sugar solution 1,0493 0,0001 0,0008

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 1,1242 0,0002 0,0014

10.2.4 Instruments with a 6 figure display (S.G.) (n = 19):

Range r95 R95

Ethanol 0,9946 - 0,9991 0,00005 0,00019
Beer 0,9991 - 1,0170 0,00008 0,00032
Sugar solution 1,0493 0,00007 0,00035
1,1242 0,00016 0,00135

Where n = number of participating laboratories.

11 BIBLIOGRAPHY
11.1 Strunk, D.H., Aîcken, J.C., Hamman, I.W. and Andreasen, A.A., Journal of the Association of Official
Analytical Chemists, 1982, 65, 218.

11.2 ISO 12185:1993 - Crude petroleum and petro1eum products - Determination of density - digital density
meter method.

11.3 Mundy, A.P., Journal of the Institute of Brewing, 1996, 102, 69.

11.4 ISO 15212-1: Draft 1997, Densitity meters of the oscillation type - Part 1: Laboratory instruments.

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