Hach 2100AN Benchtop Laboratory Turbidimeter

Overview

The Hach 2100AN Benchtop Laboratory Turbidimeter is a precision nephelometric instrument engineered for accurate, repeatable turbidity measurement in controlled laboratory environments. Operating on the principle of 90° light scattering—per ISO 7027 and EPA Method 180.1—the 2100AN quantifies suspended particulate concentration in liquid samples by detecting scattered light intensity at a right angle to the incident beam path. Its tungsten-filament light source ensures spectral stability across the visible range (400–600 nm), minimizing interference from sample coloration or fluorescence. Designed for routine water quality analysis in municipal drinking water labs, environmental testing facilities, and pharmaceutical QC laboratories, the 2100AN delivers traceable, auditable results aligned with regulatory reporting requirements under EPA, ISO, and USP frameworks.

Key Features

• High-stability tungsten lamp with integrated thermal regulation for consistent output over extended operation cycles
• Silicon photodiode detector optimized for signal-to-noise ratio in low-turbidity ranges (0.01–10 NTU)
• Full-range measurement capability from 0 to 1000 NTU with auto-ranging resolution scaling (0.01/0.1/1 NTU)
• GLP-compliant internal memory storing up to 1,000 test records with timestamp, operator ID, calibration history, and sample ID
• Front-panel USB port supporting direct data export to USB flash drives in CSV format for LIMS integration
• Onboard diagnostics including lamp life monitoring, detector saturation alerts, and cuvette alignment verification
• Compliance-ready calibration management: supports Formazin, StablCal, and custom reference standards with full traceability logs

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The 2100AN accepts standard 25-mm round glass or disposable plastic cuvettes (10 mm path length), accommodating both clear and highly turbid aqueous matrices—including raw surface water, filtered potable water, wastewater effluents, and process rinse solutions. Its optical design minimizes errors from bubble entrapment and wall scattering through precision cuvette seating and beam collimation. The instrument meets ISO 7027:2016 for instrument performance verification, conforms to EPA Method 180.1 for regulatory reporting, and satisfies ASTM D6508 for industrial water applications. For pharmaceutical use, it supports USP turbidity validation protocols and enables 21 CFR Part 11–compliant audit trails when paired with Hach’s DataStream software (optional).

Software & Data Management

While fully functional as a standalone benchtop unit, the 2100AN integrates seamlessly with Hach’s DataStream PC software for advanced data handling. This validated application provides secure user access control (role-based permissions), electronic signature capture, automated report generation (PDF/Excel), and configurable data archiving policies. All measurements include embedded metadata: date/time, operator credentials, calibration status, instrument serial number, and environmental temperature (via optional external probe). Audit trail functionality records every parameter change, calibration event, and data export action—enabling full compliance with GLP, GMP, and ISO/IEC 17025 documentation requirements.

Applications

• Drinking water treatment: monitoring coagulation/flocculation efficiency and final filter performance
• Environmental monitoring labs: analyzing lake, river, and groundwater samples per EPA and state regulatory protocols
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing: verifying clarity of purified water (PW) and water for injection (WFI) per USP
• Food & beverage QA: assessing suspension stability in juices, dairy products, and brewing wort
• Academic research: supporting sediment transport studies, colloid stability experiments, and membrane filtration validation
• Industrial process control: tracking turbidity excursions in cooling tower blowdown and boiler feedwater systems

FAQ

What turbidity standards are supported for calibration?
The 2100AN supports Formazin primary standards (certified traceable to NIST SRM 2134), StablCal polymer standards, and user-prepared standards—each with configurable concentration values and uncertainty fields.
Does the instrument require annual factory recalibration?
No. The 2100AN is designed for field-verifiable performance; users perform routine verification using supplied check standards (e.g., 0.1 NTU and 20 NTU StablCal vials) and document results per internal QA procedures.
Can the 2100AN measure samples with high dissolved color?
Yes. Its 90° scatter geometry and tungsten light source reduce color interference relative to transmission-based methods; however, samples exceeding 500 Pt-Co units should be evaluated via method validation per USP .
Is the data export format compatible with LIMS platforms?
Yes. CSV exports contain column headers compliant with ASTM E1461 and include all required metadata fields for direct ingestion into most LIMS without transformation.
What maintenance is required beyond routine cleaning?
Lamp replacement every 12 months (or 2,000 hours), annual verification of detector linearity using certified standards, and biannual inspection of cuvette holder alignment per Hach Technical Bulletin TB-2100AN-01.