Can I revive a pH meter I just found in the lab? - (Apr/13/2011 )
Hi,
I found a pH meter in a new lab I've just joined, I tried using it but the calibration read out at pH 4 is 7, so clearly it has a problem. I'm not that clear from the manual I down loaded how I might be able to fix it. The electrode is a Thermo Orion Ross 8102BN. I tried soaking it in KCL at 55 degrees C as in the instructions then putting it in fresh storage buffer. I also emptied the old internal buffer and refilled it with the "orange buffer". Was this the right thing to do or should I have used the AgCl?
Is there any hope of me being able to fix it? Is the little hole near the bottom supposed to be open? Sorry for all these stupid questions, I need to make MAB and as my colour vision isn't great I can't use pH paper very well. Not sure the boss is open to spending $400 on a new electrode so I'd really like to rescue the one I found. At a guess I'd say it hasn't been used for at least 2 years.
Thanks for your thoughts!
j_mlvny on Thu Apr 14 03:11:35 2011 said:
Hi,
I found a pH meter in a new lab I've just joined, I tried using it but the calibration read out at pH 4 is 7, so clearly it has a problem. I'm not that clear from the manual I down loaded how I might be able to fix it. The electrode is a Thermo Orion Ross 8102BN. I tried soaking it in KCL at 55 degrees C as in the instructions then putting it in fresh storage buffer. I also emptied the old internal buffer and refilled it with the "orange buffer". Was this the right thing to do or should I have used the AgCl?
Is there any hope of me being able to fix it? Is the little hole near the bottom supposed to be open? Sorry for all these stupid questions, I need to make MAB and as my colour vision isn't great I can't use pH paper very well. Not sure the boss is open to spending $400 on a new electrode so I'd really like to rescue the one I found. At a guess I'd say it hasn't been used for at least 2 years.
Thanks for your thoughts!
Hi,
Why don't try to ask the manufacturer? may be they can guide you to fix it..
Eum, are you sure you used a fluid that is pH 4? Its seems rather weird that you get pH 7, the other calibration fluids pH...
And as noyara allready said: if you cant figure it out, you might need to call them.
Have a look here
there should be nothing wrong with the meter itself. the electrode is most likely the problem.
make a visual inspection of the electrode. make sure it is intact.
the "hole" near the bottom is probably the porous plug. that needs to be clean and white. if it is not white then you should clean it. you may need to use something like terg-a-zyme to clean it properly.
the fill solution should be kcl or kcl+agcl.
the standard buffers may be off (if they are old then they most probably are). you should get new buffers.
if you still can't get it to work properly then you should buy a new electrode. you don't have to get the same one. you can get one that better fits your purpose and budget. just make sure you get the right connector (i think yours is a bnc connector).