Drick DRK-Z893 LED Cold Light Source Digital Enhanced Automatic Polarimeter with Temperature Control
| Brand | Drick |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shandong, China |
| Manufacturer Type | Direct Manufacturer |
| Product Category | Domestic |
| Model | DRK-Z893 |
| Price Range | USD 11,200 – 14,000 (FOB Qingdao) |
| Instrument Type | Automatic Polarimeter |
| Temperature Control | Yes, Peltier-based thermostatic control |
| Display | High-contrast digital LCD |
| Light Source | Stable 589.3 nm LED (sodium D-line equivalent) |
| Optical Rotation Range | ±90° |
| Sucrose Scale Range | ±259°Z |
| Resolution | 0.001° (optical rotation), 0.01°Z (sugar scale) |
| Accuracy | ±0.002° (at 20°C, calibrated with quartz control plate) |
Overview
The Drick DRK-Z893 is an automatic polarimeter engineered for high-precision measurement of optical rotation in chiral substances under controlled thermal conditions. It operates on the fundamental principle of plane-polarized light transmission through optically active samples—where molecular asymmetry induces angular deviation (rotation) of the polarization plane. The instrument employs a stable, narrow-band LED light source centered at 589.3 nm—spectrally aligned with the sodium D-line—to ensure metrological consistency and eliminate mercury lamp hazards and warm-up drift. Integrated Peltier-based temperature regulation maintains sample cell temperature within ±0.1°C across a range of 10–40°C, enabling thermally stabilized measurements critical for pharmaceutical QC, sugar industry standardization, and academic stereochemical research. Unlike conventional analog or semi-automatic units, the DRK-Z893 delivers fully automated zero-point calibration, real-time drift compensation, and dual-scale readout (degrees optical rotation and degrees Z for sucrose concentration), meeting foundational requirements for method validation under ISO 8539 and USP .
Key Features
- LED cold light source with 589.3 nm peak emission—no warm-up time, no UV/IR spectral contamination, >10,000-hour lifetime
- Peltier-driven thermostatic cell holder with digital setpoint control (10–40°C, resolution 0.1°C, stability ±0.1°C)
- Dual-scale digital display: optical rotation (±90°, 0.001° resolution) and sucrose concentration (±259°Z, 0.01°Z resolution)
- Automatic zero calibration using internal reference prism; eliminates manual mechanical nulling
- Robust aluminum alloy optical bench with anti-vibration base and sealed optical path to minimize ambient interference
- RS-232 and USB-B interfaces for external data logging and integration into LIMS or laboratory automation workflows
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The DRK-Z893 accepts standard 100 mm and 200 mm path-length sample tubes (inner diameter 18–22 mm), compatible with aqueous solutions, organic solvents (e.g., ethanol, chloroform), and viscous syrup matrices—provided optical clarity exceeds 85% transmittance at 589 nm. Its design conforms to essential metrological frameworks: traceability to NIST-traceable quartz control plates (certified ±0.001°), alignment with ISO 8539:2021 (polarimeters — performance requirements and verification methods), and functional readiness for GLP-compliant environments. While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11–validated out-of-the-box, its audit-ready data export (CSV/TXT), timestamped measurement logs, and user-accessible calibration history support validation protocols required by pharmaceutical QA departments.
Software & Data Management
The instrument operates autonomously via embedded firmware but supports optional PC software (Windows 10/11, 64-bit) for advanced data handling. This application enables batch measurement sequencing, statistical analysis (mean, SD, RSD), trend charting over temperature ramps, and direct export to Excel or PDF reports compliant with internal SOP templates. All measurements are stamped with date/time, operator ID (via optional login module), temperature reading, and instrument serial number—ensuring full traceability. Raw data files include metadata headers describing calibration status, lamp intensity feedback, and thermal equilibrium confirmation flags—critical for regulatory review during GMP audits.
Applications
- Pharmaceutical quality control: enantiomeric purity assessment of APIs (e.g., ibuprofen, levodopa, escitalopram) per EP 2.2.7 and USP
- Sugar industry: Brix-equivalent determination and sucrose inversion kinetics in beet/cane processing and beverage formulation
- Food & flavor chemistry: monitoring chiral marker degradation (e.g., limonene, carvone) during thermal processing or storage
- Academic research: kinetic studies of asymmetric catalysis, polymer helicity characterization, and solvent polarity effects on specific rotation
- Chemical manufacturing: batch release testing of chiral intermediates where optical rotation serves as a release specification parameter
FAQ
Does the DRK-Z893 meet international calibration traceability standards?
Yes—the instrument is supplied with a NIST-traceable quartz calibration plate (±0.001° certified), and factory calibration reports include uncertainty budgets per ISO/IEC 17025 guidelines.
Can it be used for non-sugar chiral compounds?
Absolutely. The primary readout is optical rotation (°), independent of sucrose equivalence; °Z conversion is optional and user-selectable for food applications.
Is temperature ramping supported during measurement?
No—the system holds a fixed setpoint during acquisition. However, sequential measurements at discrete temperatures (e.g., 15°C, 20°C, 25°C) can be programmed and logged with full thermal equilibration verification.
What maintenance does the LED light source require?
None. The solid-state LED requires no alignment, has no consumables, and maintains spectral stability without recalibration for ≥5 years under normal operation.
Is remote diagnostics or firmware update capability available?
Firmware updates are performed via USB drive; remote diagnostics are not embedded but supported through secure screen-sharing sessions with Drick technical engineers upon customer request.
