METTLER TOLEDO Densito Portable Digital Density Meter

Overview

The METTLER TOLEDO Densito is a handheld, battery-powered digital density meter engineered for high-precision field and laboratory density determination of liquids and solids across diverse industrial environments. It operates on the oscillating U-tube principle—a well-established method standardized in ISO 12089, ASTM D4052, and IP 160—where sample density is derived from the resonant frequency of a precisely calibrated glass tube filled with the test substance. This physics-based measurement ensures traceable, temperature-compensated results without reliance on calibration curves or reference standards for routine use. Designed for robustness and operational autonomy, the Densito delivers three-decimal-place resolution (0.001 g/cm³) with repeatability of ±0.0005 g/cm³ under controlled ambient conditions (−10 °C to +50 °C), making it suitable for quality control in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical excipient verification, food & beverage formulation, petrochemical logistics, and polymer processing where portability and metrological integrity are equally critical.

Key Features

• True portable operation: Integrated rechargeable battery supports >1,000 measurements per charge; no external power supply required for on-site deployment.
• Intuitive guided workflow: On-device step-by-step prompts ensure consistent execution of measurement, cleaning, and temperature equilibration—reducing operator dependency and minimizing procedural variance.
• High-visibility color display: 4.3-inch backlit TFT LCD with adjustable brightness enables reliable reading indoors, outdoors, and under low-light conditions; integrated backlighting in the measurement cell aids visual detection of bubbles, particulates, or phase separation prior to analysis.
• Multi-parameter result capture: Each stored record includes sample ID, measured density, selected unit, temperature at time of measurement, instrument serial number, date/time stamp, and applied temperature correction coefficient (e.g., for °Brix or API gravity).
• Comprehensive unit flexibility: Supports 11 preconfigured density-related units—including ASTM D1250-compliant API gravity, ISO 21748-referenced °Brix, and USP -aligned ethanol concentration—with optional user-defined scaling for proprietary formulations.
• Ruggedized industrial design: IP54-rated enclosure protects against dust ingress and water splashes; shock-absorbing housing meets MIL-STD-810G drop-test requirements for handheld instrumentation.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The Densito accommodates both liquid and solid samples via its dual-mode measurement protocol: liquids are introduced directly into the U-tube cell using a syringe or pipette, while solids undergo hydrostatic weighing using an optional density kit (sold separately) compliant with ISO 1183-1 for plastics and ASTM D792 for rubber. All density values are automatically corrected to 20 °C unless otherwise specified by user-selected standards (e.g., 15.6 °C for petroleum products per ASTM D1250). The instrument conforms to GLP/GMP data integrity expectations through secure, non-volatile memory storage with tamper-evident timestamps and full audit trail capability when paired with EasyDirect PC software. It satisfies regulatory readiness requirements for FDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliance when configured with electronic signature and user access controls.

Software & Data Management

Data export and long-term archiving are supported via USB connection to Windows-based systems running EasyDirect PC software—a validated application that enables batch reporting, statistical process control (SPC) charting, PDF certificate generation, and integration with LIMS or MES platforms. Measurement records can be filtered by date range, sample ID, or operator; exported formats include CSV, XML, and PDF/A-1b for archival compliance. The software enforces role-based permissions, automatic backup scheduling, and encrypted local database storage. RFID and barcode scanning functionality is available exclusively on the DensitoPro variant and not supported on the base Densito model.

Applications

• Pharmaceutical: Verification of solvent purity (e.g., IPA, ethanol), excipient density screening, and density-based lot release testing per USP .
• Food & Beverage: Real-time monitoring of sugar content (°Brix), alcohol strength (% v/v), and syrup consistency in production lines and warehousing.
• Petrochemical: Field verification of crude oil API gravity, diesel fuel density, and lubricant base stock specification adherence.
• Chemicals: In-process control of acid concentration (e.g., H₂SO₄ % w/w), polymer solution density, and catalyst slurry homogeneity.
• Academic & Research Labs: Teaching density fundamentals, material characterization, and method development for novel fluid systems.

FAQ

What is the minimum sample volume required for a valid measurement?
For liquid samples, the Densito requires only 1 mL to fully fill the oscillating U-tube cell.
Does the Densito require periodic recalibration with certified reference materials?
No—its oscillating U-tube sensor is factory-calibrated and drift-stable; however, daily air/water verification is recommended per ISO/IEC 17025 internal quality procedures.
Can the Densito measure viscous or volatile samples?
Yes—samples up to 20,000 mPa·s viscosity may be measured using slow-fill mode; volatile solvents require sealed transfer and rapid injection to minimize evaporation effects.
Is temperature control built into the instrument?
The Densito features a Peltier-independent ambient temperature sensor and applies real-time thermal compensation algorithms—but does not actively regulate sample temperature; external thermostatted baths are advised for applications requiring strict isothermal conditions.
How are measurement results traceable to national standards?
Each Densito unit ships with a factory-issued calibration certificate traceable to METTLER TOLEDO’s primary standards, which are themselves linked to PTB (Germany) and NIST (USA) via accredited interlaboratory comparisons.