Lovibond EComparator Series Digital Portable Automatic Colorimeter

Overview

The Lovibond EComparator Series Digital Portable Automatic Colorimeter is an engineered solution for rapid, objective color assessment in industrial quality control and laboratory environments. Based on tristimulus colorimetric principles, the instrument replicates human visual perception using a calibrated white LED illuminant and a three-channel photodetector system aligned to CIE 1931 standard observer functions. Unlike subjective visual comparison against glass standards, the EComparator delivers traceable, operator-independent numerical results—enabling consistent pass/fail decisions across shifts, sites, and supply chains. Designed for compliance-critical sectors including petrochemicals, pharmaceutical excipients, food-grade oils, and water treatment, it performs standardized color measurements per multiple international methods without requiring optical alignment or manual calibration verification before each use.

Key Features

• Integrated tristimulus sensor with stable white LED illumination ensures long-term photometric consistency and eliminates lamp aging drift common in tungsten-based systems.
• 3.5-inch resistive touchscreen display (320×240, 24-bit true color) with tactile three-button interface enables glove-compatible operation in production or field settings.
• Compact, flame-retardant ABS housing (106 × 210 × 57 mm) meets IP54-rated ingress protection for dust and splash resistance during portable deployment.
• Dual power architecture supports continuous operation via USB bus power or four standard AA batteries—ideal for off-grid sampling or mobile QC labs.
• Onboard storage capacity exceeds 20,000 measurement records with timestamp, operator ID, method ID, and raw spectral data—supporting audit-ready documentation.
• Multi-scale color engine simultaneously calculates and displays results in Pt-Co, Gardner, ASTM Color, and Saybolt units from a single measurement—reducing cross-method recalibration time.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The EComparator accommodates standard 10 mm, 25 mm, and 50 mm pathlength cuvettes (glass or disposable plastic), enabling direct analysis of clear to moderately hazy liquids. Its optical geometry adheres to ASTM D1209 (Platinum-Cobalt scale for water and aqueous solutions), ASTM D1544 (Gardner scale for resins and varnishes), ASTM D1500 (ASTM Color for petroleum products), and ASTM D156 (Saybolt Chromometer for lubricants and fuels). Method-specific validation protocols are embedded in firmware, ensuring conformance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements for testing laboratories. The device is CE-marked and manufactured under ISO 9001-certified processes; its measurement uncertainty profile aligns with NIST-traceable reference standards used in interlaboratory proficiency testing programs.

Software & Data Management

Data export is supported via USB 2.0 interface to Windows-based PCs using Lovibond’s proprietary LogSoft™ desktop application (v5.2+), which provides GLP-compliant reporting, trend analysis, statistical process control (SPC) charting, and automated PDF certificate generation. All stored measurements include immutable metadata: date/time stamp, user login, selected method, sample ID, environmental temperature reading, and raw sensor voltage outputs. Audit trail functionality complies with FDA 21 CFR Part 11 requirements when paired with configured electronic signatures and role-based access controls. Firmware updates are delivered via signed .hex files to prevent unauthorized modification.

Applications

• Water and wastewater treatment: Monitoring decolorization efficiency of activated carbon or ozone treatment using Pt-Co units per ASTM D1209.
• Petrochemical refining: Verifying ASTM Color compliance of jet fuel (Jet A-1) and naphtha fractions prior to blending or shipment.
• Coating and resin manufacturing: Quantifying Gardner scale progression during alkyd resin oxidation or polyol synthesis.
• Pharmaceutical excipient release: Confirming color consistency of glycerin, propylene glycol, or PEG batches against USP limits.
• Food-grade oil processing: Assessing thermal degradation in sunflower or linseed oil via Gardner or Pt-Co drift during deodorization.
• Fuel additive formulation: Validating Saybolt color stability of diesel after antioxidant dosing per ASTM D6045.

FAQ

Does the EComparator require annual recalibration by an accredited lab?
No—its factory calibration is maintained through internal reference checks at startup and every 30 minutes during operation. However, users must perform daily verification using supplied Lovibond Certified Reference Standards (CRS) per ISO 8536-4 and document results for GLP audits.
Can the instrument measure opaque or turbid samples?
It is designed exclusively for transparent to slightly hazy liquids. Turbidity exceeding 5 NTU will invalidate colorimetric readings; samples must be filtered (e.g., 0.45 µm membrane) prior to analysis per ASTM D6166 guidelines.
Is method switching possible during a single session without rebooting?
Yes—users may toggle between Pt-Co, Gardner, ASTM Color, and Saybolt modes instantly via the touchscreen menu, with all parameters (wavelength weighting, integration time, and tolerance thresholds) automatically reconfigured per ASTM-defined spectral weighting functions.
What happens if the battery dies mid-measurement?
All active measurements are retained in volatile memory and written to non-volatile flash upon safe shutdown. A low-battery warning triggers at ≤15% remaining capacity, allowing ≥2 minutes of continued operation for data saving.
How does the EComparator handle ambient light interference?
The optical chamber is fully shielded with light-tight gasketing and employs synchronous detection synchronized to the LED pulse frequency—rejecting >99.8% of ambient photonic noise, validated per IEC 61000-4-3 radiated immunity testing.