pH of Star Series

Method Note pH of
Salt Water M-1014-E 03/05 RevB Salt Water

Calibration and Analysis pH Introduction

1. Allow all the standards and the samples to attain room temperature for precise measurements since the Salt Water Measurement of pH is one of the most important and frequently used tests in water chemistry. This
measurement is temperature sensitive. method measures pH of salt water from the ocean. It utilizes the Orion Epoxy-Body, Triode 3-in-1
pH Electrode
2. Calibrate the meter using the pH 7.00 buffer followed by the pH 4.01 buffer, stirring the standards at pH/ATC Probe, which is ideal for eld or plant use.
a uniform rate.
3. Place electrode, ATC probe and stirrer into beaker with pH 7.00 buffer standard with the electrode tip Recommended Equipment Cat. No.
fully immersed in the solution. The stirrer should be positioned slightly below the tip of the electrode.
pH in Salt Water Application Package
Press the STIRRER key on the meter to turn the stirrer on. Press the CALIBRATE key.
(includes all items with a Cat. No.) 1010115
4. Wait for stable reading (1-2 minutes). Enter standard value of 7.00 using the UP and DOWN arrow
keys and the DECIMAL /DIGIT key. 1. 3-Star portable pH meter 1212000
5. Press CALIBRATE key to accept 7.00 standard and press the STIRRER key to turn the stirrer off. 2. Low maintenance pH/ ATC Triode 9107BNMD
6. Rinse electrode, ATC probe, and stirrer thoroughly with deionized water. Gently remove excess 3. Orion benchtop stirrer (or magnetic stir plate and bar) 096919
solution from the outer sleeve of the electrode by dabbing with a clean paper tissue. Do not wipe or 4. Orion benchtop electrode stand 1110001
rub the sensing element of the electrode. 5. Softpack 1210005
7. Place the probes and stirrer into beaker with the pH 4.01 buffer standard with the electrode tip fully 6. Rubber boot and storage sleeve 1210002
immersed in the solution. The stirrer should be positioned slightly below the tip of the electrode. Press
the STIRRER key on the meter to turn the stirrer on. 7. Beakers (50 mL)
8. Wait for stable reading (1-2 minutes). Enter standard of 4.01 using the UP and DOWN arrow keys 8. Graduated cylinder (50 mL)
and the DECIMAL /DIGIT key. 9. Watch glass
9. Press MEASURE key to accept 4.01standard and to move to the measure mode of the meter. Press the
STIRRER key to turn the stirrer off. Required Solutions Cat. No.
10. Rinse electrode, ATC probe, and stirrer thoroughly with deionized water. Gently remove excess 1. pH 4 buffer pouch, 10 Pack, color coded pink 910410
solution from the outer sleeve of the electrode by dabbing with a clean paper tissue. Do not wipe or
rub the sensing element. 2. pH 7 buffer pouch, 10 Pack, color coded yellow 910710
11. Place the probes and stirrer into prepared sample with the electrode tip fully immersed in the solution. 3. pH 10 buffer pouch, 10 Pack, color coded blue 911010
Press the MEASURE key on the meter; the stirrer will turn on. The pH icon will flash as the 4. Electrode rinse pouch, 25 pack 911125
measurement is being made. The pH icon will become solid and the display value will freeze when a
5. Deionized water
stable reading is achieved. This value is logged and printed automatically and the stirrer turns
off automatically.
Calibration Standard Preparation
12. Repeat steps 10 and 11 for additional samples. Remember to rinse the electrodes with deionized water
between measurements. Penetrate each sample to the same depth to reproduce sample measurement. 1. Select two buffers that bracket the expected sample pH. The first should be near the electrode
Upon completion of samples, rinse the electrode with deionized water and store the electrode isopotential point (pH 7) and the second near the expected sample pH.
according to instructions in the Electrode Storage section of this method note.
2. Using a graduated cylinder, transfer 30 mL of the pH 7.00 buffer into a 50 mL beaker.
3. Using a graduated cylinder, transfer 30 mL of the pH 4.01 buffer into a 50 mL beaker.

Sample Preparation
1. Collect samples of salt water according to the Sample Collection Procedure approved by EPA.
2. Using a graduated cylinder, measure 40 mL of the sample into a 50 mL beaker. Cover the beaker with
a watch glass.
3. Repeat this procedure for additional samples.

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www.thermo.com Beverly, MA 01915 USA www.thermo.com/water
M-1010-E 03/05 RevB 2005 Thermo Electron Corporation.
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 pH of
Salt Water

Results Meter Setup - 3 Star

Samples of the salt water were collected. Five aliquots of this sample were measured and the pH results For initial meter setup, follow the steps on the Reference Panel that is attached to the meter itself. The Quick
demonstrated a good repeatability. Start Guide also contains a layout of the meter keypad for reference. The words in this method represented in
all capital letters, such as POWER, indicate a key on the meter, and words in quotations such as Unit indicate
Salt Water pH information on the meter display.
Sample # 1: 7.99 1. Connect the electrode to the meter.
Sample # 2: 7.95 2. Connect the temperature probe to the meter these steps would probably be different
Sample # 3: 7.97 3. Press the POWER key on the meter to turn the meter on.
Sample # 4: 7.95 4. Note that the arrow on the left of the screen indicates the active line. If not the top line is not active, press
Sample # 5: 7.93 the LINE SELECTION key to change the selected line to the top line. Then press the UP or DOWN
arrow keys to change the measurement mode of the top line to pH.
5. Press the SETUP key to enter pH Setup. Press the LINE SELECTION key to select the middle line.
Mean: 7.96 Press the UP or DOWN arrow keys to select rES which is resolution.
Standard Deviation: 0.02 6. Press the LINE SELECTION key to select the bottom line. Press the UP or DOWN arrow keys to select
%CV: 0.29 0.001 for rES which is an abbreviation for resolution or number of significant digits. Press the LINE
SELECTION key to accept setting.
Electrode Storage 7. Press the LINE SELECTION key to select the middle line, and press the UP or DOWN arrow key to
select bUF which is pH buffer.
For brief storage periods between sample measurements (for eld use), saturate a piece of cotton with Orion
pH Storage solution and place it in the Orion storage sleeve, making sure to cover the reference and sensing 8. Press the LINE SELECTION key to select the bottom line, and press the UP or DOWN arrow key to
surfaces to keep them moist. For longer storage periods (more than one week), rinse o any salt build-up with select USA which is US/Orion buffers.
deionized water, and remove any membrane/junction deposits. Cover the sensing surface with a protective cap 9. Press the LINE SELECTION key to accept and select the pH Setup Menu line (Top Line).
and store dry.
10. Press the MEASURE key to return to the measurement mode.
Equipment Setup
If all steps were followed correctly the meter display will show three digits in the top line and pH to the right
Electrode Setup Waterproof pH Triode of the top line. The meter and electrode are now ready for calibration.
1. Remove the protective shipping cap from sensing element and save for storage.
2. Clean any salt deposits from exterior by rinsing with deionized water.
3. Shake down the electrode to remove air bubbles.
4. Soak electrode in pH Electrode Storage Solution, Cat. No. 910001, for two hours.

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