KA-128 Karrie Water-Soluble Acid and Alkali Tester for Petroleum Products
| Brand | Karrie |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shenzhen, China |
| Model | KA-128 |
| Bath Dimensions | 220 × 120 × 200 mm |
| Bath Cover Opening | Two Ø100 mm holes |
| Temperature Control Range | Ambient to 95 °C |
| Heating Power | 600 W (adjustable) |
| Power Supply | AC 220 V ±10%, 50 Hz |
| Construction | Powder-coated steel enclosure with 304 stainless steel bath vessel |
Overview
The KA-128 Karrie Water-Soluble Acid and Alkali Tester is a dedicated benchtop analytical instrument engineered for precise, standardized determination of water-soluble acidic and alkaline components in petroleum products. It operates in strict compliance with GB/T 259–2016, the Chinese national standard equivalent to ASTM D974 (titration method using alcoholic indicator solution) and aligned with ISO 6618 for acid/alkali extraction and endpoint detection. The system functions as a temperature-controlled extraction and neutralization platform: petroleum samples are extracted with distilled water under controlled thermal agitation, followed by titration with standardized hydrochloric or potassium hydroxide solutions to quantify total titratable acidity or alkalinity. Its design centers on thermal stability, chemical resistance, and procedural repeatability—critical for refinery QC labs, third-party testing facilities, and R&D units evaluating lubricant oxidation stability, fuel degradation, or additive package integrity.
Key Features
- Stainless steel (AISI 304) bath vessel and lid assembly ensures long-term resistance to corrosion from acidic/alkaline aqueous extracts and organic solvents.
- Precision solid-state voltage regulator enables continuous, stepless adjustment of heating power across the full 0–600 W range, supporting stable thermal control within ±1.5 °C over the ambient-to-95 °C operating window.
- Dual Ø100 mm apertures in the insulated bath cover accommodate simultaneous placement of extraction flasks and reference vessels—facilitating parallel sample processing and method validation.
- Robust powder-coated mild steel chassis provides mechanical stability and electrical safety; all internal wiring conforms to IEC 61010-1 for laboratory equipment.
- No integrated electronics or digital display—deliberately designed as a passive thermal platform to eliminate calibration drift, electromagnetic interference, or software obsolescence risks common in embedded controllers.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The KA-128 supports routine analysis of mineral oils, transformer oils, turbine oils, gasoline, diesel, and residual fuels per GB/T 259 requirements. Sample volumes typically range from 20–50 mL, extracted with equal volumes of distilled or deionized water at 70–80 °C for 5 minutes with manual agitation. The unit is compatible with standard 250 mL Erlenmeyer flasks and volumetric pipettes used in classical titrimetric workflows. While the instrument itself does not perform titration, its thermal performance directly impacts extraction efficiency—validated against GB/T 259’s specified temperature tolerance (±2 °C during extraction). Documentation packages include traceable factory calibration records for temperature uniformity mapping across the bath volume, supporting GLP-compliant audit trails.
Software & Data Management
The KA-128 operates without embedded firmware or proprietary software. All operational parameters—including heating setpoint, dwell time, and power level—are manually configured via front-panel controls. This analog architecture eliminates dependency on operating systems, drivers, or cybersecurity updates. Users maintain full data sovereignty: titration results, sample IDs, analyst initials, and environmental conditions (ambient temperature/humidity) are recorded in paper-based or LIMS-integrated electronic lab notebooks (ELN). For regulated environments, the absence of automated data capture simplifies 21 CFR Part 11 compliance—no audit trail generation, electronic signatures, or system validation is required. Calibration logs and maintenance records can be archived per ISO/IEC 17025 Clause 6.4.10.
Applications
- Monitoring acid number (AN) rise in in-service turbine oils as an early indicator of oxidative degradation.
- Verifying absence of caustic soda carryover in post-refining naphtha streams.
- Assessing neutralization capacity of corrosion inhibitors in lubricant formulations.
- Screening for residual alkaline cleaning agents in recovered solvent fractions.
- Supporting root-cause analysis of copper strip corrosion failures per ASTM D130.
FAQ
Does the KA-128 include a built-in titrator or pH meter?
No. It is a thermal extraction platform only. Titration must be performed manually or with standalone burettes and indicators (e.g., methyl orange or phenolphthalein), as specified in GB/T 259.
Can it be used for non-petroleum samples such as biodiesel or bio-lubricants?
Yes—provided the sample is miscible with water during extraction and does not corrode stainless steel at elevated temperatures. Validation per ASTM D664 or EN 14104 is recommended for non-standard matrices.
Is temperature uniformity across the bath verified during manufacturing?
Yes. Each unit undergoes thermal mapping at three load conditions (empty, half-filled, fully loaded) using NIST-traceable Pt100 probes. A certificate of conformance is supplied with shipment.
What maintenance is required beyond routine cleaning?
Annual inspection of the solid-state regulator’s heat sink and verification of grounding continuity per IEC 61010-1 Annex H.
Does Karrie provide method transfer support for laboratories adopting GB/T 259?
Yes—application notes, SOP templates, and interlaboratory comparison datasets are available upon request through authorized distributors.
