ATAGO RX-5000i-Plus Automated Digital Refractometer

Overview

The ATAGO RX-5000i-Plus is a high-precision, fully automated benchtop digital refractometer engineered for laboratory and quality control environments requiring traceable, temperature-controlled refractive index (n_D) and Brix measurements. It operates on the principle of total internal reflection at the prism–sample interface, where incident light undergoes critical angle shift proportional to the sample’s refractive index. Integrated Peltier thermoelectric temperature control ensures rapid, stable thermal equilibration (5–75°C, ±0.01°C) without external water baths—enabling ASTM D1218, ISO 21745, and USP compliant measurements under defined thermal conditions. Designed for reproducibility in regulated workflows, the instrument delivers n_D values to six decimal places and Brix to three decimal places, supporting quantitative analysis of aqueous and non-aqueous solutions across food, pharmaceutical, chemical, and advanced materials applications.

Key Features

• High-resolution measurement engine: 0.000001 n_D resolution and 0.001% Brix resolution, validated against NIST-traceable sucrose standards
• Integrated Peltier temperature control system with real-time feedback loop—eliminates dependency on external chillers or water baths
• Capacitive touchscreen interface with intuitive icon-driven navigation and multilingual OS support (English, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, German)
• Automated self-diagnostic routine executed at power-on and prior to each measurement sequence, verifying optical alignment, temperature stability, and prism cleanliness status
• Five configurable measurement modes: Standard, Continuous, Auto-Start (on temperature stabilization), Interval, and QC Mode (with pass/fail thresholds and alarm logging)
• Synthetic sapphire prism and SUS316 stainless-steel sample well—resistant to corrosion, thermal shock, and aggressive solvents including ethanol, acetone, and organic acids

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The RX-5000i-Plus accommodates clear, translucent, and mildly turbid liquids—including syrups, fruit juices, dairy concentrates, glycol solutions, battery electrolytes, and polymer emulsions—without dilution or filtration in most cases. Its wide refractive index range (1.324200–1.580000) supports both low-density hydrocarbons and high-concentration sugar or salt solutions. The instrument complies with key international standards for refractometric analysis: ISO 21745 (refractometers for liquid products), AOAC Official Method 932.12 (Brix determination), and FDA-recommended practices for analytical instrument qualification (IQ/OQ/PQ). Audit trail functionality—including operator ID, timestamp, temperature, and scale selection—is configurable to meet GLP and GMP documentation requirements per 21 CFR Part 11 when paired with ATAGO’s optional LabManager software.

Software & Data Management

The RX-5000i-Plus stores up to 500 measurement records onboard, each containing n_D, Brix, temperature, date/time stamp, selected scale, and user ID (if enabled). Data export is supported via USB port (CSV format) for integration into LIMS or statistical process control platforms. Optional LabManager PC software provides extended capabilities: centralized instrument fleet management, custom report generation (PDF/Excel), statistical trend analysis (X-bar/R charts), electronic signature support, and full 21 CFR Part 11 compliance with role-based access control and immutable audit logs. All firmware updates are delivered via ATAGO’s secure download portal and installed via USB—ensuring long-term regulatory readiness and metrological integrity.

Applications

• Food & Beverage: Real-time Brix monitoring during juice concentration, jam formulation, soft drink blending, and fermentation process control
• Pharmaceuticals: Excipient concentration verification (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol), syrup density validation, and cleaning solution strength testing
• Chemical Manufacturing: Glycol/water ratio analysis in antifreeze, HCl or NaOH concentration tracking, and solvent purity screening
• Electrolyte & Battery R&D: Lithium-ion electrolyte composition verification and conductivity correlation studies
• Academic Research: Calibration of optical sensors, thermodynamic property modeling (refractivity vs. concentration), and interfacial phenomena investigations
• Quality Assurance Labs: Incoming raw material inspection (e.g., honey adulteration detection), in-process checks, and release testing per SOPs

FAQ

What temperature range does the Peltier system support, and how quickly does it stabilize?
The built-in thermoelectric module regulates sample temperature from 5°C to 75°C in 0.1°C increments, achieving ±0.01°C stability within 2–4 minutes depending on setpoint delta and ambient conditions.
Can the RX-5000i-Plus measure non-sugar solutions using custom scales?
Yes—up to 100 user-defined calibration curves can be programmed using concentration–n_D reference data, enabling direct readout for acids, alkalis, alcohols, or proprietary formulations.
Is the instrument suitable for measuring viscous or particulate-laden samples?
Samples must be optically homogeneous and free of suspended solids; however, moderate viscosity (<1000 mPa·s) is accommodated via extended measurement dwell time and optional wiper-assisted prism cleaning protocol.
How is measurement traceability maintained for ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation?
Each unit ships with a factory calibration certificate referencing NIST-traceable sucrose standards; users may perform intermediate verification using ATAGO-certified check standards (e.g., SRM-10a, SRM-20a) and document results in the onboard log or LabManager.
Does the device support network connectivity or remote operation?
Native Ethernet or Wi-Fi is not integrated; however, USB-to-Ethernet adapters and third-party SCADA-compatible drivers enable integration into industrial automation systems via Modbus TCP or OPC UA gateways (configuration assistance available through ATAGO Application Support).