The new instrument analyses liquid, translucent samples for their optical spectrum, colour, and water parameters. Operators speed up their processes and improve the quality of the results using Easy VIS, therefore saving money, time, and space.
Mettler-Toledo’s Easy VIS, an EasyPlus UV/VIS spectrophotometer, takes over the measuring tasks of up to three instruments: a colourimeter, a spectrophotometer, and special measuring methods for water testing, such as titration. All these functions can be found in one instrument about the size of a notebook. The results appear on screen in accurately, precisely, and repeatedly in seconds.
Manufacturers benefit in many ways
A typical place for Easy VIS is the QC lab at small manufacturers in the food and beverage industry, environmental testing labs, or any industry needing quality control and supervising their process nor wastewaters. The Easy VIS is used during multiple steps of the production process: for inspection of raw materials, quality control of semi-finished and finished products, or testing the water quality of wastewater. This streamlines the production processes considerably. Those who used to send their samples to an external laboratory profit even more, as they can now analyse most samples independently at an internal cost.
The visual user interface with workflow guidance requires users to only scan and measure. Even untrained staff can operate Easy VIS intuitively. This increases the integrity and repeatability of the analysis and saves training time.
Easy VIS operates within a wavelength range of 330-1,000nm. The light source is an easy-to-replace tungsten lamp, which any operator can replace within no time.
The partner device, Easy UV, covers the full UV/Vis spectrum with a wavelength range from 190- 1,000nm to cover additional applications in the UV range. Moreover, the Easy UV runs with a power-saving and maintenance-free xenon-flash lamp.
Analytic precision in three fields of expertise
The twenty-five standard-compliant colour scales in the visible range come pre-installed and can easily be used. Some examples are ICUMSA for sugar colour, ESBC for beer quality analysis, or OIV CIELab for wine colour determination. The results reveal the quality of the product within seconds.
Water analysis shows, for example, the concentration of aluminium, ozone, chlorine, or polyphenol. This reveals whether the water is fit for human consumption or can be used in further production. With its numerous built-in water testing methods, the spectrophotometer can determine if the wastewater is safe for release as well.
For spectrophotometry, the sample is analysed at the wavelengths where the sample has its characteristic absorption of light. The Easy VIS measures the transmitted or absorbed light and the reading reveals the sample’s concentration or purity.
A typical analysis with the Easy VIS
The testing procedure is simple: one cuvette holds the blank measurement, and another is prepared with the sample. After choosing the desired analysis method, the cuvette is placed in the cuvette holder. The PathDetect function recognises which path length is measured. Closing the lid automatically starts the blank measurement. After determining the blank measurement, the sample cuvette is brought into the measuring position. The measurement starts again automatically after closing the lid. Within seconds, the results show up on the screen. At this stage, the Easy VIS is free to analyse other samples or to start a different analysis method. With the EasyDirect software, these results may be automatically saved or exported to an external storage device or exchanged with a data management system (eg LIMS). The blank measurement will also be stored for the next seven days, saving an additional step unless the measurement parameters have changed.
Conclusion
Easy VIS has the potential to replace up to three other instruments, performing colour measurement, water analysis, and spectrophotometry. It can perform with accuracy and precision, and within several steps of the production process.
